Habersham County authorities confirm one fatality following Cornelia-area house fire

A fatality has been reported after a Habersham County house fire broke out inside a large residence near the Chattahoochee River.

Habersham County Emergency Services (HCES) Director Chad Black said the body of what appeared to be an adult was found during an interior search of the residence, which only became possible after the main body of the fire had been extinguished.

"Habersham County 911 received a call reporting a structure fire off Heads Ferry Road on the Chattahoochee River," Black explained. "[The] caller advised large two story home with heavy fire and smoke showing."

First responders arrived to find the home roughly 80% involved with flames.

Multiple HCES units were initially deployed to the scene, and Black said units from Demorest and Baldwin were soon called to assist, with the scene making a proactive attack difficult to carry out.

"Crews were unable to get apparatus close to the structure due to driveway," Black said. "[They] had to lay hand lines several hundred feet in order to get water on the fire. Due to the amount of fire, crews operated in a defensive mode."

Although no timetable was given, Black said crews were later able to enter the residence, at which point the body was discovered.

Personnel from the Habersham County Sheriff's Office, Habersham County Coroner's Office and State Fire Marshall's Office were also called to the scene.

This story will be updated as more details become available.