Head-on crash closes U.S. Route 76 in Young Harris
News March 9, 2020
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – A two-vehicle accident occurred shortly after 1 pm. Monday, March 9, on U.S. Route 76 in the vicinity of Brasstown Valley Resort near Equani Spa. According to Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland, two victims from the head-on collision were airlifted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville; one victim from the scene of the crash and the second victim from the Towns County Fire Station 2 landing zone in Young Harris.
Each vehicle involved in the collision contained a single occupant. Both victims were listed in serious condition.
As of 4 pm, traffic on Highway 76 was closed to motorists as Georgia State Patrol investigated the accident and a reenactment scene was staged.
UPDATE: According to Towns County 911, Highway 76 reopened to traffic at 4:15 pm.
The March 9 crash marks the fourth accident to occur in Towns County since Feb. 28.
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News February 29, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Incident Report
2/19/20 -2/25/20
2/19/20
4 Medical Calls
2 Public Assist
2 Motor Vehicle Accidents
1 Chimney Fire
2/20/20
1 Medical Call
1 Cancelled En Route
3 Fire Alarm
2/21/20
3 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
2/22/20
2 Medical Call
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Controlled Burn
2/23/20
2 Medical Call
1 Assist Other
1 Controlled Burn
2/24/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
2/25/20
6 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News February 21, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
2/12/20 – 2/18/20
2/12/20
3 Medical Calls
2/13/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 False Alarm
2/14/20
6 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
2/15/20
5 Medical Call
3 Cancelled En Route
2/16/20
2 Medical Call
2 Landing Zones
2/17/20
3 Medical Calls
2 Assist Other
2/18/20
2 Medical Call
1 Public Assist
1 False Alarm
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Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News February 15, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
2/5/20 – 2/11/20
2/5/20
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
2/6/20
2 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
2/7/20
7 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Assist Other
1 False Alarm
2/8/20
7 Public Assist
2 Motor Vehicle Accidents
1 Medical Call
2 Cancelled En Route
1 False Call
2/9/20
4 Cancelled En Route
1 Medical Call
1 Controlled Burn
2/10/20
3 Medical Calls
3 Cancelled En Route
2/11/20
1 Medical Call
1 Public Assist
2 Cancelled En Route
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News February 3, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/22/20 -1/28/20
1/22/20
1 Medical call
1 Brush Fire
1/23/20
6 Medical Calls
1 False Call
1 Controlled Burn
1/24/20
3 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/25/20
1 Medical Call
1/26/20
3 Medical Calls
1/27/20
3 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/28/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
Devastated victim praises Towns County Fire & Rescue’s response
Featured, News February 2, 2020
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Sunday afternoon’s bright, blue sky and unseasonably warm weather seemed to contradict the tragedy that occurred just 15-hours before in the peaceful village of Enchanted Valley RV Resort. FYN arrived at the park to take photographs of the aftermath of a structure fire that shamelessly destroyed three homes during the midnight hour of Feb. 2, unprepared to come face-to-face with the fire’s heartbroken victim.
Photo courtesy of Towns County Fire and Rescue
Click to read: Overnight fire destroys multiple homes in RV park
Mike Wages, an older gentleman who relocated to Towns County from the Gwinnett-area in 2002, sat alone in his pick-up truck, staring at what remained of his full-time home as he awaited the arrival of the American Red Cross. As Wages fought tears from his kind, blue eyes, the displaced homeowner offered details on the dreadful night before.
“I was asleep, had fallen asleep watching Westerns, and woke up around midnight to the smell of smoke. I was having trouble breathing…I was able to get out, but I lost everything I had. I have never felt such pain…This is all I have,” Wages said, pointing to a small heap of crumpled clothes beside him in the passenger seat.
Wages quickly regained his composure and turned the conversation to the first responders who battled the blaze. “I want the firefighters and paramedics to know how thankful I am. They did a wonderful job. It could have been so much worse.”
Three homes were destroyed in the Feb. 2 blaze, two of which were unoccupied.
Several of Wages’ neighbors sat on a concrete bench in front of the charred structures, despondently gazing at what little remained, and likewise requested that FYN publicly extend their gratitude for Towns County Fire and Rescue’s skilled response. Firefighters arrived shortly after midnight to find the three homes engulfed in flames, quickly acting to extinguish the blaze and preventing wider spread damage to the tightly-quartered mobile homes.
Windy conditions lent to the escalation of the fire, Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland told FYN earlier in the day. “The firefighters did a tremendous job,” Copeland said. “They performed a quick knockdown, working the hot spots to avoid rekindling, and the fire was contained.” The fire was ruled accidental.
Wages said that he, fortunately, holds homeowner’s insurance and plans to rebuild.
Feature Image: What remains of Wages’ home.
UPDATED: Overnight fire destroys multiple homes in RV park
News February 2, 2020
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – An overnight fire destroyed three camper homes in the Enchanted Valley RV Resort, Saturday, Feb. 2. Towns County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the scene at approximately midnight.
No injuries were reported.
Enchanted Valley RV Resort
“The firefighters sure did do a great job at saving the other campers, especially under those really windy conditions. Great job,” Erica Roach wrote Saturday morning on social media. “The fire destroyed three campers but those three were affected before the fire department got in.”
Enchanted Valley RV Resort is located off of State Route 75 South, the highway leading to Helen, GA.
FYN is awaiting further information from Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland at this time. An update will be provided as details emerge.
UPDATED: Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland stated Saturday afternoon that the overnight fire originated in a middle trailer, igniting the units on each side of the camper of origin. A fourth RV sustained minimal damage.
A male resident was reported asleep at the time that the fire began, exiting the residence unscathed. Copeland said that the fire was ruled accidental. “The firefighters did a tremendous job. They performed a quick knockdown, working the hot spots to avoid rekindling, and the fire was contained,” Copeland told FYN, adding that windy conditions contributed to the spread of the blaze.
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News January 30, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/15/20 -1/21/20
1/15/20
2 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
1/16/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Controlled Burn
1 Cancelled En Route
1/17/20
5 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
2 Landing Zones
1/18/20
7 Medical Calls
1 False Fire Alarm
1/19/20
5 Medical Calls
1 False Call
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Landing Zone
1/20/20
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Medical call
1 Elevator call
1False Fire Alarm
1/21/20
2 Medical Calls
1 False Call
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Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News January 18, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/8/20 – 1/14/20
1/8/20
1 Medical Call
1 Landing Zone
1 Structure Fire
1/9/20
7 Medical Calls
2 Public Assist
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Vehicle Fire
1 Controlled Burn
1/10/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
1/11/20
7 Medical Calls
11 Assist Other
1 False Alarm
1/12/20
1 Assist Other
1 Cancelled En Route
1/13/19
8 Medical Calls
1/14/20
1 Medical Call
1 Assist Other
1 Cancelled En Route
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News January 10, 2020
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/1/20 – 1/7/20
1/1/20
2 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/2/20
2 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Assist Other
1/3/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/4/20
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 False Alarm
1/5/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
2 Cancelled En Route
1/6/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zone
1 Assist Other
1/7/20
1 Medical Call
1 Landing Zone
1 Public Assist
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident report
Activity Report, News December 27, 2019
Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report
12/18/19-12/24/19
12/18/19
2 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
12/19/19
2 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 False Call
12/20/19
3 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
12/21/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Landing Zone
12/22/19
No Calls
12/23/19
4 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Landing Zone
12/24/19
5 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 False Call
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News December 23, 2019
Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report
12/11/19 – 12/17/19
12/11/19
3 Medical Calls
1 Public Assist
1 Landing Zone
1 Cancelled En Route
12/12/19
3 Medical Calls
12/13/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Smoke Investigations
12/14/19
4 Medical Calls
3 Landing Zones
1 Smoke Investigation
12/15/19
7 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Assist Other
12/16/19
6 Medical Calls
1 Structure Fire
12/17/19
3 Medical Calls
1 Fire Alarm
1 Electrical Fire
Towns County Fire and Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News December 17, 2019
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
12/4/19 -12/10/19
12/4/19
5 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
12/5/19
6 Medical Calls
3 Cancelled En Route
1 False Alarm
12/6/19
7 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
12/7/19
5 Medical Calls
12/8/19
2 Medical Calls
12/9/19
2 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
12/10/19
1 Medical Call
2 Cancelled En Route
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News December 9, 2019
Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
11/27/19 – 12/4/19
11/27/19
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
11/28/19
6 Medical Calls
3 Landing Zones
1 Illegal Burn
11/29/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
11/30/19
5 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
12/1/19
3 Cancelled En Route
2 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
12/2/19
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En route
12/3/19
5 Medical Calls
2 Controlled Burns
Citizens urged to practice fire safety as holidays draw near
News November 7, 2019
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The holiday season is quickly approaching, and while it is important to enjoy this time of year, it is crucial to keep fire safety in mind. The American Red Cross, in conjunction with Towns County Fire and Rescue, will be visiting local residences to install free smoke detectors on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Citizens in need of the no-charge service should call 706-896-2090 to schedule a time for installation.
Additionally, Agent Kimberly Farner of Kim Farner Agency has partnered with Georgia Arson Control to urge the citizens of Towns County to be aware of the possible hazards that are involved with seasonal decorations.
“The holiday season can be filled with family, friends, and good food, but let’s also keep safety in mind while enjoying this time of year,” Farner encouraged. Farner offered the following tips to ensure a safe holiday:
- When purchasing a tree, check the tree for freshness. A dry tree is highly flammable. Use this test: hold a branch about six inches from the tip, and pull your hand toward the tip, allowing the branch to slip through your fingers. If the tree is fresh, very few green needles will come off. Also, lift the tree off the ground and tap the trunk on the ground. Again, very few needles should fall off.
- Before placing the tree in a stand designed not to tip over, cut about six inches off the trunk of the tree and soak the base of the tree in a bucket of water overnight.
- The tree stand should be designed to hold plenty of water and should be checked daily.
- Do not place the tree or natural garland near a fireplace, furnace vents, television, or other heat sources.
- Consider having a live tree with a root ball that can be replanted after the holidays. A live tree is less flammable than a cut tree but still requires watering.
- Buy lights labeled by a recognized testing laboratory and check annually for frayed or damaged cords. On Christmas trees, use small lights that stay cool to the touch or LED lights which also save energy.
- For outside decorations, use only outdoor lights. Never use indoor lights outside.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets with multiple plug adaptors or power taps. Use caution with extension cords; make sure they’re placed where they won’t trip anyone. Avoid running extension cords under carpets or rugs.
- Make sure candles are a safe distance from the tree, curtains, furniture, and other flammable objects. Use large base candles or protect candles in a globe. Don’t leave candles unattended. Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
The Georgia Arson Control Program, Inc. (GAC) was formed in January of 1979 by property and casualty insurers writing business in Georgia. GAC, with the cooperation of the Commissioner, Georgia Department of Insurance and Safety Fire, and state/local law enforcement agencies established an ARSON HOTLINE 1-800-282-5804. A reward fund of up to $10,000 was initiated from which monetary rewards are given to individuals who come forward with information that results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for arson and/or fraud.
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News October 12, 2019
Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report
10/2/19 -10/8/19
10/2/19
2 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Gas Leak
10/3/19
3 Medical Calls
1 Assist other
10/4/19
2 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Landing Zone
1 Controlled Burn
1 Cancelled En Route
10/5/19
2 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
1 False Fire Alarm
1 Cancelled En Route
10/6/19
1 Medical Call
2 Cancelled En Route
10/7/19
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
10/8/19
1 Medical Call
1 Controlled Burn