State fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused an early morning explosion and fire that seriously injured a man and destroyed a home west of Cleveland.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy says firefighters were called to the scene at 332 Turner Ridge Road around 12:38am Wednesday. Units from Cleveland and White County responded. When they arrived, he says they found an approximately 1,500 square foot home “fifty-percent involved, with fire through the roof.” A vehicle was also on fire.
Initial reports indicated someone possibly trapped inside. Murphy says a man was found outside with second and third degree burns over fifty-percent of his body. The man, identified as Ty Daniels, was airlifted to Grady Hospital in Atlanta. His current condition is unknown.
Explosions reported
According to Murphy, Daniels was renting the basement of the house from the homeowner. The owner and another person were in the house at the time of the fire. They were not injured.
The house was destroyed. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the displaced homeowner.
Murphy says, “There were reports of a large explosion and several smaller explosions before the fire.” The State Fire Marshall’s Office was called in to investigate and Public Information Officer Laura Wright tells Now Habersham it remains an “open investigation.”
