What started as a contained fire to burn cardboard turned into a major loss for a barn owner in Homer.
Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols says that yesterday around 2:50 p.m., an individual’s fire in their burn barrel spread due to high fire conditions, moving to their neighbor’s yard and catching a chicken house on fire that had been updated to serve as a barn.
The fire spread around 5 acres, Nichols says, and burnt down the barn that housed cows and pigs. The animals were safely removed with the help of firefighters and the property owner, and thankfully, no one was hurt.
RELATED: North and Central Georgia under high fire danger alert
With the dry conditions and high winds in the Northeast Georgia area, the region is currently under a high fire danger warning. People are encouraged to not set fires due to their likelihood of spreading.
“I would say that the red flag burn day did contribute to the fire,” Nichols said. “Due to the dry conditions and wind, the fire spread rapidly.”
Firefighters spent about four hours putting out the blaze and utilized five fire vehicles, including assistance from Habersham County and Georgia Forestry. Nichols said twelve personnel were on the scene.
Firefighters have responded to multiple reports of grass fires in different parts of Habersham County in recent days. Rabun County firefighters requested mutual aid for a grass fire Friday off Low Gap Road on the southwest end of the county.
Authorities urge residents of North and Central Georgia to check with local burn permitting authorities before lighting any outdoor fires to make sure it’s allowed. If you do burn outside, use extreme caution.
