An overturned lamp is being blamed for sparking an early morning residential fire in Cornelia that displaced a homeowner and her cat.
The woman was not at home when the fire broke out at 952 Wayside Street Northwest on December 3, says Cornelia Fire Marshal Josh Hazel. He says the lamp fell onto a bed in the upstairs bedroom. The fire has been ruled accidental.
“It is unknown if the cat knocked the lamp over,” says Hazle. “Neighbors saw smoke coming from the home and called 911.”
Habersham 911 dispatched the Cornelia Fire Department to the scene around 3:13 a.m., along with mutual aid from Baldwin, Demorest, and Habersham County. Firefighters located the fire which had spread to the attic and quickly extinguished it.
The fire damage was contained to the upstairs but there was smoke damage throughout the house, says Hazle. “There is also some water damage on the main floor of the home.”
The cat was unharmed.
The homeowner was contacted and arrived on the scene while firefighters were still there. Hazle says she and her pet relocated to a family member’s home.
Cornelia police temporarily closed the northwest portion of Wayside Street while fire crews were on the scene. There were no reports of any injuries.
This article has been updated with additional information
