A camper caught fire next to a house east of Clarkesville on Monday, forcing the residents from their home.
At 5:18 p.m., Habersham County emergency personnel were dispatched to a report of a camper fire with a person inside on Suttles Road off Antioch Church Road. Smoke from the fire could be seen for several miles.
The camper owner, who was preparing for a trip with his family, was able to get out of the camper and get the family’s truck unhooked and away from the burning camper that was parked about 60 feet from the front of a mobile home on Suttles Road.
“We responded to an approximately a 1,500-square-foot, triple-axle camper,” said Habersham County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Michael Alexander. “When we arrived, it was fully involved. We quickly got the fire under control and secured the propane tanks. All the family members were out safe.”
Alexander said anytime an individual is reported to be inside a burning structure or vehicle, the goal is to arrive safely and provide all assistance possible through rescue attempts.
“We were responding with all surrounding units,” Alexander said. “Usually, we have an emergency response, but when we know that somebody may be trapped inside, you kind of step it up above that, but luckily everybody was out of the structure.”
Some ammunition was discharging in the camper, creating concern because of propane tanks that were full at the time of the fire, says county public information officer Rob Moore.
The camper was a travel trailer not used as a primary residence, Alexander said, adding the cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature but remains under investigation.
There were no reports of any injuries.
Suttles Road is near the Toccoa Highway end of Antioch Church Road toward Clarkesville, though it is addressed to Mt. Airy.
Habersham County Emergency Services responded, along with units from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Clarkesville Fire Department. Clarkesville police also assisted initially. Firefighters cleared the scene around 7 p.m. Monday.
