An outdoor fireplace may be to blame for a fire that gutted a rental cabin in Sautee. The fire displaced the renters and forced firefighters to work well into the night to contain it.
Firefighters responded to the scene at 202 Clarice Lane around 10 p.m. Sunday, according to White County Fire Service spokesperson Ana Newberry. When the renters called for help they told dispatch the side of the cabin was on fire from an outdoor fireplace.
WRWH Radio reports that White County Fire units with Automatic Aid from the City of Helen responded. By the time firefighters arrived the fire had spread and the residence was heavy with fire.
Everyone got out safely.
White County requested mutual aid from Habersham Fire for additional water and the Lee Arrendale Fire Brigade. The Red Cross was called in to help the renters who were visiting from South Georgia, according to Newberry. The rental management company provided them with another cabin.
According to Newberry, Firefighters spent approximately three hours fighting the fire then remained on scene for an additional two hours to ensure the fire did not spread to adjacent rental cabins/homes.
No injuries were reported.
State Fire Investigator Brian Smith deemed the fire was accidental. The exact cause remains under investigation.
WRWH Radio contributed to this report
