Residents safely escaped a structure fire in Athens that claimed the lives of their pets and destroyed their home on Saturday morning, according to the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department.
Athens-Clarke County firefighters responded to the house fire on Old Jefferson Road Saturday, Feb. 15, arriving on the scene at 10:23 a.m. to find heavy flames and thick smoke coming from the front of the two-story home.
The fire department says that crews moved to contain the blaze, preventing further damage and bringing the fire under control through coordinated efforts. The residents were able to escape, though their pets did not survive the fire.
The home was a total loss.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities urge residents to check smoke detectors and have an emergency escape plan in place in the event of a fire.
