Historic Loganville Home Burns An Hour After Tour

Loganville, GA -- Investigators on Tuesday were continuing to look for what caused the fire that destroyed a historic home in downtown Loganville about an hour after hundreds of guests visited it as part of a Christmas Tour of Homes.

Loganville Fire Department Chief Danny Roberts said fire officials believe the blaze began near a closet in the rear of the 19th Century wood building, but that no cause has yet been determined for the Sunday blaze.

The 135-year-old home, at 214 C.S. Floyd Rd., houses the business Brysan Utility Contractors. It was one of several residences and buildings showcased on the Loganville Woman’s Club Christmas Tour of Homes.

The tour ended at 5:30 p.m. and firefighters received a call to the fire at 6:47 p.m.

“Of course, we don’t know exactly what time everybody got out of there, but it was about an hour between when they left and when we got a call,” Roberts said.

Roberts declared the damage to the structure “a total loss,” saying it was already heavily involved in flames when firefighters arrived. Investigators had not determined a cause of the fire as of Tuesday.

“The Loganville Woman’s Club wishes to extend it’s love and prayers to the Barber Family and the Brysan Utility Contractors family for their loss of their business home today,” the group said in a post on Facebook.

“Thank you for allowing hundreds of residents to visit your historical site and witness the love that you extend through your business and your family. We are all blessed to have been able to meet you and see the amazing work you had done to the building. You will all be in our prayers!”

The home had recently undergone renovations leading up to the tour of homes. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control, Roberts said.