OAKWOOD - Hall County firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire on the shores of Lake Lanier late Thursday evening.
Deputy Fire Chief Chad Black said that crews were dispatched Thursday to the 5700-block of Harbor North in response to reports of a large ongoing house fire in the area. Harbor North is a street within the Hidden Harbor subdivision off of Flat Creek Road in Oakwood.
Upon arrival, Black said crews discovered an approximately 4,500-square-foot home that was displaying signs of heavy fire-involvement. He added that several nearby homes were at risk for exposure due to the severe nature of the fire.
Black said firefighters were intially forced to take a defensive approach in regards to their attack. Crews also worked to protect those nearby homes for any additional exposure.
No injuries were reported, with Black noting that the home's occupants noticed fire affecting the rear of the building early on and were able to safely escape the residence with their pet.
Despite the efforts of the firefighters on scene, Black said the advanced nature of the fire resulted in the home being declared a total loss. He estimated the total loss at $750,000. Black added that the Red Cross had been notified of the situation and was preparing to assist the homeowners.
At this time, no cause has been given for the initial outbreak, although Black noted that an investigator had been called in to determine the exact nature of the fire.
