Firefighter sent to hospital after battling grass fire

A firefighter is helped out of the woods after collapsing while battling a grass fire threatening several homes off GA 197 North near Hardman Road on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)

HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. — A grass fire near Georgia Highway 197 in the Hardman Road area threatened nearby homes and sent one firefighter to the hospital, officials said.

The fire broke out near a new residential area about a half-mile north of North Georgia Technical College. Habersham E-911 dispatched firefighters to the scene just before 4 p.m. on March 21.

Several crews on their way to assist with a residential fire near Batesville were redirected to help with the grass fire.

“They had to turn around and go to Hardman and handle that one,” said Habersham County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Dwight McNally.

A firefighter scales a ladder on a fence to spray down and extinguish flames threatening several houses north of Clarkesville. (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)
This aerial photo shows burn marks in the backyards of two newly-built homes on GA 197 North near Hardman Road. The houses were threatened by a fast-moving grass fire that started in the woods behind them on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)

Crews worked to contain the blaze as it burned close to homes. Authorities said the fire may have started at a nearby construction site, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

While battling the flames, a firefighter collapsed at the scene. Fellow firefighters helped him out of the woods, and he was transported to Habersham Medical Center in Demorest for observation.

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