Resident escapes, two firefighters sent to hospital

This photo of a fire at a Blue Ridge Lake home was believed to have been taken only minutes after firefighters were called to the scene shortly before 3 p.m. last Wednesday, July 26. The resident who was at home reported discovering the blaze when the entire front of the structure, facing the lake, was already fully involved in flames. Neighbors removed the boat shown in the foreground to a different dock.

Fannin County Firefighter Brad Beaver waters down one of the smoldering spots Thursday morning that was left by the Wednesday fire. Firefighters returned to the location every two hours after the fire was extinguished to make sure everything was under control and protect nearby homes.

The morning after a Blue Ridge Lake home was destroyed by fire, it was easy to see how close a neighbor’s house is located, which was not damaged by the blaze.

Firefighters battled extreme heat Wednesday, July 26, when they fought a fire at a Blue Ridge Lake home. Despite how close the home was to a garage, at right, and another residence, only the garage suffered very minor damage with a melted gutter

A Fannin County firefighter cools off from the excessive heat after having battled a fire at this home on Blue Ridge Lake. Fire department Training Chief Michael Cornelius said, “You may see one laying down, but there were several others who were also laying down or working to recover from the extreme heat.” One firefighter was transported to Blue Ridge Medical Center suffering from possible heat exhaustion, Fire Chief Larry Thomas said.