Habersham County and other area emergency and fire departments needed several hours to douse an automotive recycling yard fire on Thursday, January 2.
Officials with Habersham County emergency Services were called to the Dale Recycling and Used Auto Parts lot along Crane Mill Road in Alto at around 3:15 pm. after witnesses called 911 with reports of fire among several vehicles on the rear side of the property.
Smoke was seen from several miles away, prompting other fire departments from the City of Baldwin, Hall County Fire Rescue and the Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto to assist.
Lt. Randi Seabolt of Habersham County Emergency Services Station 12says in a county press release, “We get here and it’s many crushed vehicles, a lot of rubbish on fire, a bus, two concrete trucks – a whole lot of other crushed cars on fire.”
Over 30 units from the combined departments on site were needed to douse the flames during a more than two hour period Thursday afternoon. Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Alto Police Department initially assisted with shutting down Crane Mill Road between Yonah-Post Road to allow crews to properly battle the fire. Alto's Water Department was on site to assist with supplies in order for crews to continue coverage on hot spots in the lot.
No injuries were reported. The cause for the fire has not been determined and remains under Habersham County fire marshal's office investigation.
