Authorities are investigating the death of a person found inside an apartment attached to a burning barn in Lula. Firefighters discovered the body after responding to two fires on the same property within minutes of each other Sunday morning.
The first fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. inside a single-story residence in the 8800 block of Forrester Road. While Hall County firefighters were extinguishing that fire, more firefighters were dispatched to a second blaze on the property about one mile behind the home.
“This was a fully involved barn with a studio apartment attached to the side,” says Hall County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger. “One deceased victim was located in the apartment.”
Officials sent the body for an autopsy. Derreck Booth with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office say an investigator has been assigned to the case and is working to notify the next of kin. The deceased person’s name has not been released.
According to Ledsinger, the barn was a total loss, and the residence was partially damaged.
Firefighters from White and Habersham counties provided water trucks to help fight the fires due to the lack of hydrants in the area.
The Hall County Sherriff’s Office and Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fires.
