One person was treated for smoke inhalation following a house fire in Gainesville on Thursday evening.
Firefighters were called to the scene on Holly Drive around 6:30 p.m., and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the home.
"GPD [Gainesville Police Department] officers on scene assisted two residents as they self evacuated the house," explained Keith Smith, a Division Chief with the Gainesville Fire Department. "The structure had fire involvement on the main floor and basement."
After working to extinguish the fire, Smith said crews remained on the scene to ensure there was no fire extension.
Smith said in an update released Friday afternoon the fire was ruled an electrical shortage involving the electrical panel box and the HVAC system in the home.
Smith said an electrical shortage may have caused a fire in the furnace, which is located inside a utility closet inside the home. The fire spread through the ductwork of the HVAC system and into the home.
Firefighters did rescue a cat from the home, which was uninjured, according to Smith.
The two individuals who fled the fire were said to be receiving assistance. A damage estimate has not been released due to the extent of damage to electrical wiring in the home.
