A large lake home was destroyed by fire Monday night in Rabun County. The flames coming from the 12,000-square-foot home on Mathis Dam Road could be seen for miles around, according to Justin Upchurch, Assistant Chief of Rabun County Fire Services. “One 9-1-1 caller was across the lake and reported hearing an explosion and could see the house and trees on fire.”
Around 10:36 p.m. multiple fire crews from Rabun County, including fireboats, arrived on the scene to find flames coming from the basement and side of the house, along with heavy smoke all around the area. Emergency crews tried to fight the fire by going into the basement, but they were driven back by zero visibility and intense heat. All crews were evacuated from the home, and minutes later the house erupted into flames with fire coming from all sides.
The fire could be seen for miles, according to Upchurch, and multiple 9-1-1 callers reported the situation.
Backup crews were called in from Habersham County and a fireboat attacked the fire from the lake side of the house, using lake water as a supply. They also focused on putting out flames that had spread into the woods and a nearby power pole.
Five firefighters were treated on scene for heat exhaustion and dehydration but none were transported to the hospital for further treatment.
The home was a total loss with small, contained fires burning in the basement throughout the next day.
The house was used as a vacation property, and nobody was home at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.
