Grill Sparks Weekend Fire that Displaced Barrow County Family of Five

A weekend fire caused by a charcoal grill displaced a family of five. 

Communication officers with received a 911 call at 3:18 a.m. Saturday, April 14, 2012, reporting a fire at 852 Briscoe Mill Road in Bethlehem. 

Engines 1, 3 and 7, Med 3 and Battalion 1 responded to the scene.

“Upon arrival firefighters found the home heavily involved in fire,” Interim Battalion Chief Heath Williams said in a news release. “Due to the amount of fire, firefighters had to make an aggressive attack from outside of the home.”

The trailer was heavily damaged as a result of the fire, and the American Red Cross responded to assist the family of five that was displaced as a result of the damage to the home.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a charcoal grill that had been used earlier in the evening. The heated grill had been left on the porch of the home.

“We want to remind citizens that when they utilize grills to cook, to always keep safety in mind,” Lt. Scott Dakin, pubic information officer for Barrow County Emergency Services, said in the release. “You should always grill away from your home and decks, and out from under eaves or overhanging limbs. You should also keep in mind that the coals in the grill will stay heated for hours after use.”

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