Travis Drive home extensively damaged by Wednesday afternoon fire

GAINESVILLE - While the occupants escaped injury, fire caused heavy damage to a house Wednesday afternoon near East Ridge Road in Hall County.

Firefighters responded just before 5:00 p.m. to the approximately 1000 square-foot house near the intersection of East Ridge and Travis Drive. Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said there was heavy fire showing from the rear of the house when first responders arrived.

"Right now the fire appears to be accidental in nature, starting in an electrical outlet in the rear of the house," Cagle said.

He said it appears the back porch had been enclosed to form a room.

"A lot of times when those types of alterations are made to houses, they do not upgrade the electrical, and we think it just got overloaded and started an electrical fire," Cagle said.

The damage estimate for the house worth approximately $65,000 is $40,000, according to Cagle.

He said the occupants will stay with family members. Cagle said the occupants were renting the home and did not have renters' insurance.