Habersham County home destroyed by fire

Firefighters from three departments battled a fire in the Alto area for nearly four hours Tuesday.

Habersham County Fire Chief Jeff Cain said the late-afternoon fire at 401 Herring Mill Road started in the area of a window air conditioning unit in the back of the home.

Three or four rooms had been added to the single-wide mobile home, which was occupied by a man, his wife, and a 2-year-old child, Cain said.

Personnel from Habersham County Station 12, Baldwin Fire Department and Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department fought the fire, an effort complicated by two roofs on the home, Cain said.

Water had to be shuttled from Crane Mill Road.

"It was a tight, narrow dirt driveway - rutted really," Cain said. "It was a challenge getting in and out but we made it happen."

Cain said firefighters used 9,000-10,000 gallons of water extinguishing the fire.

No one was hurt at the home or during the lengthy firefighting effort, but quantities of ammunition did discharge.

"We did have quite a bit of ammunition going off - in the beginning anyway," Cain said. "It's more of a scare than anything else."

Habersham EMS provided an ambulance on site throughout the firefighting effort.

The American Red Cross was called to assist the family with immediate needs.