Investigators say it appears a master bathroom exhaust fan is to blame for a weekend house fire in Mt. Airy. The blaze broke out around 10:32 a.m. Sunday, April 25, in the second story of a house at 111 Wisteria Trail in the Ivy Hills subdivision.
A woman and three children were inside at the time and safely escaped the burning home.
“Cornelia units arrived on scene and found the split-level home well involved with fire and the roof partially collapsed,” says Cornelia Fire Marshal Josh Hazle. Demorest and Habersham County firefighters responded with mutual aid and quickly helped bring the fire under control. “Personnel were able to overhaul the fire and remove some of the belongings from the residence for the homeowner,” Hazle says.
The residents suffered minor smoke inhalation. Habersham County EMS treated them on the scene but did not transport anyone to the hospital.
The Cornelia Fire Marshal’s Office is still investigating the fire. Hazle says he’ll update or finalize the preliminary ruling after meeting with insurance cause and origin investigators later this week.
Cornelia Fire Chief Billy Joe Jenkins, Jr. expressed his thanks to all departments involved for “their quick response and knockdown of the fire,” which helped prevent further damage to the home and kept the fire from spreading.
