Separate fires on opposite ends of Rabun County kept firefighters busy early Saturday, resulting in damage at a Clayton home and destroying a home on Lake Burton.
Rabun County Fire Services Stations 1, 6 and 12 responded to 143 Begonia Court, Clayton, at 3:38 a.m. for a fire in an occupied single-family home.
First arriving units reported fire showing from the eaves of an attached garage of a 1,500-square-foot home, said Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch.
“A quick attack was made and that resulted in a fast knockdown with the fire contained to the garage area with the only extension into the wall between the garage and living area,” Upchurch said. “The last apparatus left the scene at 6:22am. The fire is thought to have been caused by lightning.”
Lake Burton home destroyed
At 5:03 a.m., Rabun County Fire Services Stations 3, 10, 11 and 12 were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 87 Lynchburg Lane off Laurel Lodge Road on Lake Burton.
“It was reported by the neighbors that they heard an explosion prior to seeing the home engulfed in flames,” Upchurch said. “The first unit on scene advised of an approximately 4,000-square-foot lake home that was fully involved.”
Neighbors told firefighters no one currently lived at the home.
“A defensive attack was started, and Fireboat 10 arrived shortly and began a fire attack from the lake side with its master stream,” Upchurch said. “Habersham Fire was requested for mutual aid due to location and other Rabun Fire units being tied up on the previous fire scene. Habersham Fire arrived with the assistance of firefighters from Lee Arrendale State Prison.”
The last firefighting apparatus left the Lynchburg Lane scene about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
The home was a total loss and the cause is undetermined so far.
No injuries were reported at either fire scene.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/8/925167/fires-destroy-home-on-lake-burton-home-damage-one-in-clayton