Fire Damages Red Top Mountain State Park Office

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- An office building at Red Top Mountain State Park in Bartow County was damaged in a fire on Father's Day.

The initial call of the fire came in around 3:24 p.m. Sunday, and Bartow County Fire Department units arrived on the scene at 50 Lodge Road SE to find heavy smoke and fire billowing from the building, said Fire Chief Crag Millsap.

Millsap noted firefighters were able to get the blaze under control around 5:08 p.m., and were also able to rescue several reptiles used as exhibits and for the Junior Ranger program.

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The Friends of Red Top Mountain State Park wrote on its Facebook page that much of the park office has been "very badly damaged." The facility, it added, won't be open for quite some time and the road and trails leading to the office are also closed.

"Hopefully, we can reopen them soon," the organization said Monday. "The good news is that crews will be coming in tomorrow to start cleaning out the building. Volunteers and staff got out some of the most important salvageable items today."

While organizers are set on the volunteer front, it did note that the programs they sponsor -- Mountain Music Series, Iron Pours, Homestead events and Junior Ranger -- are "another challenge."

There are no bathroom facilities, and many of the supplies were damaged or destroyed in the blaze. Furthermore, there is no facility organizers can use as back up for events just in case it rains.

"We are working on solutions to all of these problems and hope to have more to tell you (including how you can help) tomorrow," the group said. "Thanks again for all your support."

Millsap added that since the building is a state and owned and operated facility, the investigation has been turned over to the State Fire Marshal's Office.

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