On Monday afternoon, February 19, a non-permitted fire blackened about an acre of land several miles outside of Clarkesville.
Habersham County Emergency Services units were dispatched just after 3 p.m. to Belladonna Way, where a controlled burn had spread and threatened at least one structure.
“The individual who was burning did not have a burn permit,” says Habersham County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Jason Garrett.
The fire was off Shoal Creek Road in the Macedonia community outside Clarkesville.
“We had a woods fire come in and they advised it was close to a structure – said it was getting within 30 feet,” says Garrett.
Several units responded to the fire, including a brush truck and units from the Georgia Forestry Commission.
“When we got here, we had probably about a quarter acre involved,” says Garrett. “We ended up contacting [Georgia] Forestry to be en route, but before they got on scene, we already had a break around it and pretty much a knockdown.”
Garrett explains that the person who was burning said he was burning some boxes, which got out of control. He tried to extinguish it.
“Forestry is on the scene making sure everything looks good to them with the break and everything – said it was almost an acre burning,” Garrett says.
The wind blew a spot of fire across the roadway at the top of the ridge where firefighters were working to contain the flames.
Garrett reminds people to be careful when burning outdoors.
“I hope people make sure when they are burning, they make sure the conditions are favorable.”
