Chief: Squirrel gets in transformer, sparks house fire

CLARKESVILLE — Fire officials are blaming wildlife for the fire that damaged a Clarkesville home Saturday morning.

"A squirrel hit the transformer and the power surged in the line, causing the fire," Clarkesville Fire Chief Jason Poole said of the fire at 933 Rocky Branch Road.

The female resident of the home, located across from Piedmont Automotive, told officials she noticed her power went out and then smoke in the house.

As she was dialing 9-1-1 and evacuating from the back side of the house, Clarkesville Police Sgt. Ryan Ledford saw the fire from Rocky Branch Road and pulled in to check it out.

Ledford said he used the fire extinguisher from his patrol car to attempt to control the fire until firefighters arrived.

Firefighters from Clarkesville, Demorest, Habersham County Station 14 (Glade Creek), and Habersham County Squad 8 responded and extinguished the fire. Additionally, Habersham County sheriff's deputies in the area responded to assist.

One room of the wood-frame house sustained damage from the fire itself.

"Most of the fire was on the outside," Poole said. "There was more smoke inside than fire."

Ledford recovered the deceased squirrel from the base of the pole where the transformer is located.

The home's occupant was treated on the scene by Habersham Emergency Medical Services personnel after breathing in some smoke, Poole confirmed.

Habersham Electric Membership Corp. personnel responded to deal with the transformer issue.

Officials are blaming this squirrel for the fire that damaged a home on Rocky Branch Road in Clarkesville Saturday morning. The animal was killed when it got into a power transformer on a pole outside the home.

Clarkesville Fire Chief Jason Poole, right, watches as firefighters begin the process of cleaning up after Saturday morning's firefighting efforts.

Fire officials say a squirrel got into electricity on this transformer located outside a Clarkesville home Saturday morning, resulting in a power surge that sparked a house fire.

Firefighters continue their efforts at a home on Rocky Branch Road in Clarkesville Saturday morning.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/11/466146/chief-squirrel-gets-in-transformer-sparks-house-fire