Fire destroys Habersham County home

CLARKESVILLE - Fire ripped through a 2,000-square-foot brick house outside Clarkesville early Thursday.<br /> <br /> Habersham County Fire Chief Jeff Cain said the fire at 522 Blacksnake Road was reported at 12:30 a.m.<br /> <br /> Habersham County Station 14 (Glade Creek) and Station 9 (Deep Creek) initially were dispatched.<br /> <br /> After county units arrived, Clarkesville Fire Department and Georgia Department of Corrections Station 1 from Lee Arrendale State Prison were called to assist. In all, 28 firefighters responded.<br /> <br /> The home sustained heavy fire damage.<br /> <br /> "It's pretty much a total loss," Cain said. "Our first unit got on the scene and he estimated it was about 80 to 85 percent involved - basically flames through the roof in the center of the house and through all windows."<br /> <br /> The occupants of the house, identified by Cain as a male and a female who rent the home, made it out safely.<br /> <br /> Firefighters believe the fire started at the back of the structure.<br /> <br /> "We're putting the origin of the fire in the area of the back porch," Cain said. "It's still under investigation as far as that goes."<br /> <br /> Cain said there were no problems with heat or firefighter fatigue during the more than three-hour firefighting operation.<br /> <br /> "Everything went good," Cain said. "We had plenty of water, plenty of personnel. No issues with any personnel [regarding the heat]."<br /> <br /> Units remained on scene until about 3:45 a.m.