County Emergency Services Fights Two Blazes this Weekend, Firefighter Hospitalized Following Heart Attack

While working a fire in Bethlehem on Saturday, the president of the Barrow County Professional Firefighters Association experienced a heart attack.

The Barrow Journal has details on 42-year-old Rob Aldred’s condition.

Communication officers with received the 911 call reporting the structure fire at 518 Duke Road in Bethlehem at 3:43 p.m., Saturday, June 25.

Engines 3 and 4, Ladder 7, Meds 3 and 7 and Battalion 1 responded to this fire.

“Firefighters responded and found a residential structure that was heavily involved in fire,” said Lt. Scott Dakin, public information officer county emergency services. “An unattended turkey fryer being close to combustible materials resulted in this fire.”

While firefighters brought the fire under control, the house was completely destroyed.

Aldred was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. On Monday, he was still hospitalized but recovering, according to a news release.  

Crews respond to second fire Sunday

At 2:10 p.m. Sunday, June 16, communication officers received a 911 call reporting a structure fire at 777 Ode Peppers Road. Engines 1 and 3, Med 3 and Battalion 1 responded and found an outbuilding fully involved in flames. Crews fought the fire defensively and quickly brought it under control. The structure was completely destroyed by the fire.

The cause of the fire was an unattended outdoor fire.

“Both of these fires are the results of unattended heat sources,” Dakin said. “We want to remind citizens that when you are cooking or have a fire you need to remain aware of it and not leave them unattended.”