A non-permitted Monday afternoon fire blackened about an acre between homes on Belladonna Way and Blue Jay Road several miles outside Clarkesville.
Habersham County Emergency Services units were dispatched just after 3 p.m. to Belladonna Way, where a controlled burn had spread and was threatening at least one structure, according to spokesman Rob Moore.
“We had a woods fire come in and they advised it was close to a structure – said it was getting within 30 feet,” Habersham County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Jason Garrett said. “We had Engine 9 and Med 9 and the brush truck from 13 coming and then we had an engine that was testing hose today, they responded up after they got the hose loaded back on Engine 11.”
The fire was located off Shoal Creek Road in the Macedonia community outside Clarkesville.
The individual who was burning did not have a burn permit, Garrett said.
“When we got here, we had probably about a quarter acre involved,” Garrett said. “We ended up contacting [Georgia] Forestry to be en route but before they got on scene, we already had a break around it and pretty much a knockdown. The person that was burning said he was burning some boxes and it got out of control and he tried to extinguish it.”
Garrett also shared details regarding weather conditions when burning fires.
“Forestry is on scene making sure everything looks good to them with the break and everything – said it was almost an acre burning,” Garrett said. “When we got here, we had a spot fire jump the roadway and got across the road due to the wind being on top of this ridge. I hope people make sure when they are burning, they make sure the conditions are favorable.”
