A lit cigarette caused a house fire in Alto that forced an elderly woman from her home. Fortunately, the woman, who told officials she fell asleep while smoking, escaped the fire without any serious injuries.
The blaze broke out shortly after 11 a.m. Friday, December 17, inside a residence at 3073 Old Gainesville Highway. When emergency crews arrived there was heavy smoke coming from both eaves of the residence and fire inside the living room. They found the woman sitting in a chair just outside the residence and she told them there was no one else inside.
Medics attended to the woman as Baldwin and Habersham County firefighters extinguished the flames.
“The elderly female, which is oxygen dependent, stated she fell asleep while smoking. Red Cross was notified and responded to the scene,” says Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black.
After being treated, the woman was turned over to the care of family members.
