Initial fears that an elderly woman was trapped inside a burning house near Clayton Wednesday afternoon were averted when family members arrived at the scene and told emergency personnel she was with them.
Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch says initial reports were that an elderly resident was trapped inside the home at 798 Stekoa Falls Road off U.S. 441 South in Clayton when the fire was dispatched about 3:20 p.m.
The ladder truck from Station 1 and an engine and tanker from Station 6 were returning from a fire alarm when the fire was dispatched, so they arrived at the fire quickly.
“We immediately started fighting fire, with the assistance of law enforcement helping us pull lines.,” Upchurch said. “Everybody knew it was one of those situations where we needed to act quick. We got the lines pulled and started fighting fire, started the search and right about the time we completed our primary search, then the family arrived saying that the lady was with them and safe.”
The single-story home was severely damaged, and two vehicles under a carport were destroyed, Upchurch said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting Rabun County in trying to determine what caused the fire.
