TOCCOA, Ga. — New details have emerged about a fire that destroyed a shop building at the Toccoa water treatment facility Friday evening, as officials say a worker first detected smoke while ensuring normal plant operations.
Responding to Now Georgia’s media inquiry Monday, Toccoa Fire Chief Jeff Haslup said the incident began just before 6 p.m. when an employee at the plant noticed the smell of smoke and investigated the source. The worker discovered smoke coming from a water distribution warehouse adjacent to the treatment plant and called 911.
“While on the phone with dispatchers, the amount of smoke coming from the building quickly grew and flames broke through the roof,” Haslup said.
Firefighters from Toccoa and Shiloh responded, with all available off-duty Toccoa firefighters called in to assist. In total, 27 firefighters worked to bring the fire under control using an aerial ladder pipe, a deck gun mounted on an engine, and multiple handlines.
Authorities shut down traffic along Falls Road during the response as a precaution.
Haslup said crews knocked down the bulk of the fire within about 45 minutes, but remained on scene until nearly 11 p.m. extinguishing hot spots. Firefighting efforts were complicated when the building’s roof collapsed onto supplies, equipment and records stored inside. Crews had to cut through a rear wall to access burning materials.
Despite the damage to the warehouse, officials said the fire did not disrupt water treatment operations.
“The warehouse fire was downhill from the treatment plant and there was no interruption in the water treatment process,” Haslup said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting.
