Staff report
A firefighter experienced heat-related symptoms when fighting a house fire in Cleveland on Thursday, July 31. White County officials did not release the firefighter’s name.
The injured firefighter was evaluated by White County EMS, and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Habersham. He has since been released from the hospital.
Multiple agencies including White County Fire Services, Cleveland Fire Department, White County EMS, the White County Sheriff’s Office, and White County Emergency Management responded to the house fire before 1 a.m. last Thursday. The home was off Staton Road.
The passerby who called 911 to report the fire told dispatch that the home had appeared to be abandoned.
The WCSO deputy who arrived first on scene saw flames spread from the front porch to surrounding vegetation. When firefighters arrived, they determined that the two-story house was about 50% involved. Three firefighters entered the structure to search inside the home and fight the fire.
White County Emergency Management’s CERT Rehabilitation Unit also responded to support firefighter recovery efforts on scene. Lumpkin County Emergency Services, Station 7, responded under mutual aid with an additional engine and personnel to assist with manpower.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time.