Cause determined in Gainesville house fire

GAINESVILLE - The cause of Sunday morning's fire on Forrest Avenue in Gainesville was caused by a damaged service line running into the house.

Gainesville Fire Chief Jon Canada said the wire was old, contributing to the fire.

"The fire then spread upward and outward on the lower level of the home and proceeded to the second story of the home," he said.

Canada said the home, which was worth approximately $175,000, has been ruled a total loss.

He said the call came in about 1 a.m. and the fire was well underway when firefighters got there with "heavy fire and smoke showing from the rear of the structure roof area."

Chief Canada said it took about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control. The house is in the 200 block of Forest Avenue just off Green Street.