Firefighters continue their efforts to extinguish a fire at North Georgia Hardwoods in Cleveland- Photo Cleveland Fire
Firefighters battle fire at North Georgia Hardwoods on Appalachian Drive in Cleveland- Photo Dean Dyer
Appalachian Trail Drive fire illuminates the sky at North Main Street and Helen Highway- Photo Dean Dyer
(Cleveland)- Cleveland fire officials say around three million board feet of lumber were destroyed in a commercial fire in the city early Thursday morning. Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said the blaze was reported around 3:30 AM by an employee who lived in an apartment located next to the property.
According to Pruitt, the fire originated in a storage area and quickly spread to three separate buildings. No one was injured but Pruitt said a truck loaded with lumber arrived at the location sometime during the night and the driver was asleep inside the cab and noticed it was getting hot. He was able to get out before the intense heat set some of the lumber on the truck ablaze. Pruitt said the truck sustained damage from the intense heat.
About 40 personnel from Cleveland Fire, White County Fire Services, and Lee Arrendale fire brigade battled the blaze for hours.
According to Chief Pruitt the State Fire Marshall has been called in to with Cleveland Fire Investigator Jason Davis to determine the cause.
The fire scene is still very hot and Pruitt said it could be Friday before they will be able to dig into the debris and investigate further.
