An early morning house fire in Gainesville caused heavy damage but no injuries, Hall County fire officials say.
Around 7:15 a.m. Thursday, Hall County Fire Rescue (HCFR) was dispatched to a residential fire on the 3300 block of East Vale Circle in Gainesville. Arriving units found heavy black smoke coming from the roof of the two-story split-level home.
“Crews deployed a hose and began to knock down the fire offensively while simultaneously conducting a primary search. The fire was brought under control and extinguished quickly as the firefighters checked for any further extension,” says HCFR Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to cut open vents in the roof to rid the structure of any remaining smoke.
Firefighters conducted a secondary search and found no one inside. It was later confirmed that the homeowner was not at home when the fire broke out.
“Any remaining hot spots have also been extinguished, and the scene has been turned over to our investigators. The total loss of the house is about 30 percent,” says Ledsinger.
The cause of the fire is unknown and currently under investigation by the Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office.
