Fire destroys Outbuilding and Cargo Trailer near Batesville

While many people were watching the solar eclipse Monday afternoon, April 8, Habersham County Emergency Services personnel were responding to an outbuilding and woods fire off Ga. 197 North. A neighbor called to report the fire at 111 Wind Forest Court, Clarkesville, at 3pm. “The call came out as a possible storage shed fire with involvement into the wood line with a lot of explosions heard inside the building and several cars nearby the homeowners were trying to move,” said HCES Battalion Chief Michael Alexander. “When I arrived, [there was] possibly about three-quarters of an acre involvement.” Habersham County Emergency Services Engine 17, Tanker 17, Engine 16, Med 16, Engine 9, Med 9, Brush 13, Battalion 1, Captain 1, and PIO responded. The Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department Fire Team was cancelled by the incident commander while on the way to the scene. “We had an elderly gentleman that had fallen in the driveway,” Alexander said. “He was assisted by our EMS crews. He is uninjured.” Alexander said the fire was contained and extinguished. “It appeared to be accidental,” Alexander said. “The homeowner appeared to be burning some trash in a burn pit.” A storage shed, cargo trailer, and golf cart were destroyed by the fire. Units returned to service just after 4:30pm.