Space heater blamed for Banks County house fire

No injuries reported; cause was ruled accidental

This house at 171 Spring Lake Road near Commerce caught fire Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 26, 2024. Fire investigators say a space heater likely caused the blaze which heavily damaged the single-family home. (Banks County Fire and Emergency Services)

A house fire on Spring Lake Road  Tuesday caused heavy damage to the structure but resulted in no injuries.

The Banks County Fire and Emergency Services Department, along with units from the LACI and Jackson County CI Fire Departments, responded to the call shortly after 2 p.m.

Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols says that when firefighters arrived, they found the single-family residence partially engulfed in flames. The residents were home at the time of the fire, but no injuries were reported.

After an “aggressive interior attack,” Nichols says firefighters successfully contained the fire to the area of origin. He says the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, with a local space heater identified as a potential ignition source.

The American Red Cross has been contacted to provide assistance to the displaced family.