One dead after mobile home fire Saturday night in White County
Courtesy of White County Office of Public Safety
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. - A residential fire in White County claimed the life of one person on Saturday evening, according to officials.
The fire was reported at 5:52 p.m. on Jan. 18 in the area of Tom Bell Road and McGee Drive.
What we know:
White County Fire Services, with assistance from the Cleveland Fire Department and Helen Fire Department, responded to the scene along with the White County Sheriff’s Office. Initial reports suggested that an individual might be trapped inside a modular home.
Upon arrival, first responders found the home fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters launched an aggressive search for the entrapped person while additional units worked to suppress the blaze. The individual was located inside of the home.
Crews remained on-site into the evening to extinguish hot spots and prevent the fire from reigniting. Mutual aid from the Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute (LACI) provided additional manpower to assist with firefighting efforts, while the White County Emergency Management’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) deployed its Rehabilitation Unit to support firefighter recovery. A drone, UAS1, was also dispatched to provide aerial monitoring of the scene.
What we don't know:
The victim’s next of kin has been notified, but their name has not been released. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown. Investigators from the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office are conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire.