Athens Brush Fire Causes Little Harm, Spares Nearby Homes

ATHENS, GA — A brush fire at an Athens bypass with the potential to cause heavy damage spared three nearby homes, only damaging three HVAC units Tuesday afternoon, fire officials said.

Crews responded around 4 p.m. to the bypass, between Tallassee Road and Atlanta Highway, according to the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services Wednesday.

The fire was climbing uphill toward a few Melba Lane homes, prompting a fast-paced response from fire crews, according to the fire department.

"While additional units were responding, 911 dispatchers advised that flames were close to reaching two homes. As crews converged on the scene at Melba Lane, they worked quickly and exhaustively to provide an adequate supply of water to fully extinguish the fire and protect the affected homes," fire officials said in a news release.

While the homes did not burn, three HVAC units were significantly damaged, fire officials said.

"With the windy conditions and terrain, this fire had the potential to cause significant damage to homes and a larger portion of the wooded area. The quick thinking and collaborative effort by all at the scene helped to mitigate the extent of the damage," fire officials said.