Hall County crews battle an afternoon residential fire

GAINESVILLE - Hall County firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire this evening in the 2900-block of Sky Lake Circle off Allison Road.

According to Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle, after crews were initially dispatched to the location around 5:30 p.m., they arrived on the scene to find a 2,000 sq.-ft. structure that was approximately 50% involved with flames.

"Firefighters quickly made an interior attack and were able to extinguish the flames pretty quickly," Cagle said.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, but Cagle said the situation easily could have ended differently: "At the time of the fire there was one occupant inside the residence; he was asleep. He was actually awoken by his neighbor who called him on the telephone to tell him that his house was on fire."

Cagle added that the neighbor had initially spotted smoke coming from the man's garage, prompting the phone call.

Cagle said that a total damage estimate has not been assessed, but he was not optimistic about the results.

"It being 50% involved, it's probably going to be a total loss. Hopefully firefighters were able to salvage some of the occupant's valuables," he said.

Fire investigators were later called to the scene to investigate the fire, but so far no cause has been determined.

It was unknown at the time of publication what arrangements had been made to assist those displaced by the fire.