Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said the home was located at 3250 Chestatee Road.
Two adult females were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, one with minor burns and the other with smoke inhalation. Both are expected to be treated and released.
Cagle said that the resident of the lower unit went out on the covered patio to smoke a cigarette, but only smoked a portion and discarded the remainder into a plastic bucket which caught fire.
"The wind really played a big factor in this fire," Cagle added, quickly spreading the blaze into the upper unit.
"Chestatee Road has been shut down due to our fire trucks being on the scene as well as fire hose being run across the road to a hydrant," Cagle said at the time.
The fire has been ruled accidental. The duplex is a total loss. The value of loss has not yet been determined.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/1/216644