DeKalb County firefighters worked well into the evening to extinguish a massive house fire that has left a longtime family residence beyond repair.
Fire crews were called to the scene on Thompson Mill Road near Rock Springs Road, where they found a two-story house fully engulfed in flames. Video from Sky Fox 5 showed plumes of smoke rising from the structure as fire trucks lined the street to battle the blaze.
The house sits roughly 40 yards off the road and is surrounded by tall trees, which firefighters worked to protect as they contained the fire.
The home has been a staple for one local family for more than three decades. It was purchased in 1994 by a woman who raised her children there.
The homeowner’s daughter told FOX 5 that her mother had moved out over the summer due to illness and passed away just last month. While the house was technically unoccupied, the family’s furniture and clothes were still inside.
“I’m glad no one was in the house,” said a neighbor who lives next door. “But like I say, after the investigation, we’ll know what’s going on.”
Though the main body of the fire was extinguished earlier in the evening, crews remained on the scene for hours. At one point, firefighters had briefly cleared the area before another truck had to return to address potential flare-ups.
Neighbors expressed gratitude that the department was able to keep the intense flames from spreading to nearby homes. Officials say they are currently checking for hot spots to ensure the area is completely safe.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
