House Damaged by Fire Set by Squatter
A fireplace fire broke into walls and the ceiling of this house on Norwood St.
A Toccoa woman is behind bars after authorities believe she was responsible for a house fire Tuesday.
It happened about 11:30 Tuesday morning at a vacant home on Norwood St.
Toccoa Fire Chief Tommy Ayers said it appears the fire started in the fireplace.
“She had a fire in the fireplace and it got out into the walls and got up into the attic,” Ayers said. “We got it under control pretty quick. So, there was moderate damage to the house.”
Ayers said there were no injuries.
Toccoa Police Code Enforcement Officer Kristi McKnight tells WNEG News the house was not fit for occupancy and had no running water, electricity or heat.
McKnight said the woman living there was a squatter and they are checking into whether the woman had permission to be in the house.
According to Toccoa Police Sergeant Matthew Mealor who was also on the scene, drugs were found in the house and the woman was placed under arrest charged with drug possession.
The name of the woman has not been released.