HOME LOST

The home of Charlotte Johnson on Sands Drive in Monticello was destroyed by fire Saturday night. The 911 call was received at 9:16 p.m., and firefighters were on scene at 9:26 p.m.

Ms. Johnson was home and made the call. The cause of the fire was an electrical wire shorted out, according to Jasper County Fire Chief Jarrett Slocumb. Firefighters from Monticello, Hillsboro, and Piedmont stations responded.

It took them about two and a half hours to fully extinguish the fire. Last week, visibility was blocked completely for a short time on Hwy. 83 north when a mulch fire at Old Castle got out of control.

Firefighters from four stations as well as the Georgia Forestry Commission responded, with firefighters remaining on scene for about three hours.