Demorest man dies in recent camper fire

A Demorest man was killed last week in a residential fire.

According to Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King, Johnny Lee Higginbotham, 54, was killed on Friday, January 21, after a 200-square-foot camper, located on Habersham Mills Road, caught fire.

The fire was extinguished by the Habersham County and Demorest Fire Departments.

The camper was completely destroyed.

King says “after extinguishing the fire, the deceased victim was located inside. The cause of the fire is under investigation but appears to be accidental at this time.”

Commissioner King’s Fire Investigations Unit is assisting the Habersham County Emergency Services, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, and Coroner’s Office in this investigation.

This marks the 16th death from a Georgia fire since the start of 2022.