Rabun County officials today released preliminary details of a fire that destroyed several campers and the bathhouse at a Rabun County campground, claiming the life of one individual.
“The night of Thanksgiving proved to be a busy one for Rabun County firefighters,” said Rabun County Fire Services Assistant Chief Justin Upchurch. “The first fire was dispatched out at approximately 7:13 p.m. to Nichols Campground on the Tallulah River. The first units on scene found multiple campers burning with a possible entrapment of a person in one of them, along with a fire spreading into the woods. Several LP tanks were venting and burning at the site initially.”
Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and prevent further spread.
“Once the fire was contained, it was found that one person was located deceased in the area of the campers and one had escaped the fire,” Upchurch said. “A total of three campers were destroyed along with the campground’s bathhouse. The cause of the fire is under investigation and is being looked into by the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office as well as the State Fire Marshal’s Office.”
No names of the individuals involved have been released.
While the firefighters were on the scene of the campground fire, another structure fire was dispatched on Raspberry Drive in Clayton.
The second fire was reported at 7:57 p.m., and the first units arriving found a fire had started behind the residence in some leaves and had spread to the rear exterior of the house.
Firefighters quickly brought that fire under control with minor damage to siding on the back of the house, Upchurch said.
