LULA — A Banks County home was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday night.
Firefighters from Banks County, Baldwin and Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department battled the fire at 352 Barrett Road and had to shuttle water from a hydrant off Echols Road.
Barrett Road is located across Old Cornelia Highway from Enon Baptist Church.
"The fire is accidental," said Banks County Fire and EMS Chief Robert Wilkins at the scene. "It has been determined that it started in the laundry room around a gas water heater with clothing that was piled up next to the water heater."
No one was hurt and no pets were lost in the blaze, which took several hours to bring under control.
Wilkins further discussed how the fire was discovered.
"The homeowner was outside and said she heard some popping noises, went in and saw fire inside the laundry room next to the water heater, and then the smoke alarms started going off," Wilkins said. "The physical evidence at the scene does coincide with the story that she told me."
The wood-frame home was about 1,600-1,700 square feet, with two of its rooms added to the structure about 10 years ago, Wilkins said.
Banks County responded with three engines, a tanker, two med units, a support vehicle and an administrative vehicle. Baldwin responded with one engine, which was used with three Banks County trucks to shuttle water from the hydrant.
