Forysth County family loses home in fire

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. - A Forsyth County family of six is without a home after a Friday afternoon fire destroyed their rural area house.

The blaze quickly spread from the structure to surrounding woodlands, adding another layer of difficulty for firefighters.

It was a fully involved fire deep in the woods off of Wallace Tatum Road in far northwest Forsyth County which was called in by a neighbor.

“They described approximately 30-foot flames through the woods believing to be a large brush fire,” said Division Chief Jason Shivers with the Forsyth County Fire Department.

He said it was not brush fire but a house fire which quickly turned into a brushfire when the blaze jump from the structure to the woods.

The dangers of this exceedingly dry fire season became apparent when suddenly fire fighters had two fronts of fires they were battling.

“So we had to work very quickly on two different fronts. And we plowed a break around the property over approximately two acres and that way we were able to contain the fire to within that two acres,” said Shivers.

He said the Forsyth County Fire Department's Wildland Team and the Georgia Forestry Commission contained the blaze in the woods. But there was little other firefighters could do to save the four to five thousand square foot home which was a total loss.

“I was gone. My wife was gone no one was here the house burnt to the ground, said home owner Robert Johnson.

He said he's thankful his family was not home and was unhurt in the blaze.

But he's concerned about some missing pets.

Mr. Johnson said he's fortunate to have the love and support of his local church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“It's one of the best organizations out there for catastrophes like this. I'll be taken care of that's what we do, that’s what we do come together and help people," said Johnson.