Habersham County’s Emergency Services Director credits a deputy on patrol with saving a house from burning.
Chad Black says Deputy Chance Oxner noticed smoke coming from the front porch of a house at 2360 Hazel Creek Road Friday afternoon. He went to investigate and realized the porch was on fire.
Oxner reported the fire to Habersham County 911 at 12:52 p.m. He “then immediately took his fire extinguisher and started to knock down the fire,” says Black.
Firefighters responded to the scene. “Upon arrival of Habersham County Emergency Services, Officer Oxner had the fire pretty much under control. Emergency Services units used about 50 gallons of water to extinguish remaining hot spots,” says Black. He says there was damage to the porch and siding on the house but the interior was not damaged.
When the homeowner arrived on the scene they told firefighters they cleaned out their wood stove Friday morning. They put the ashes in a plastic container then placed the container on the front porch before leaving.
“This could have been much worse if not for the actions of Officer Oxner,” Black says.
A cautionary tale
Black says it’s a cautionary tale for homeowners about the proper way to clean out wood stoves and fireplaces.
He urges, don’t ever assume the ashes are cool; often when they appear that way they are not. You should put the ashes in a metal container, take them outside, spread them on the ground, and spray them down with water.
“Never place any contents removed from the fireplace, wood heaters or any heating device, in any container and leave unattended anywhere, especially on a deck, or near any structure,” stresses Black.
