A fire that heavily damaged a home in Statham Wednesday morning appears to have started around the fireplace and chimney of the house.
Steve Rose, Public Information Officer for Barrow County Emergency Services, said the residents of the house on Peace Circle were awakened around 2 a.m. and managed to get themselves and their pets out of the burning house.
"The first arriving fire units reported that the attic of the home was heavily involved in fire and that the roof was starting to collapse," Rose said in a media statement. "No injuries were reported, but the home’s occupants were placed inside of an ambulance to protect them from the cold and rainy weather."
Rose said there were smoke detectors inside the house, but they were not operational.
"We’d like to remind everyone of the importance of working smoke detectors. Today’s modern homes and furnishings burn much quicker than in the past, and produce toxic smoke that can quickly incapacitate sleeping occupants. Fortunately the occupants this morning were able to get out in time,” said Rose.
Rose said the home and its contents were heavily damaged, but firefighters were able to salvage some personal items from inside the home and return them to the owners. Two adult residents were displaced as a result of the fire.
