WAYCROSS, Ga. – A Christmas Day fire destroyed a historic house in Waycross, Georgia, leaving 10 residents displaced.
The home, located just south of the corner of Gilmore Street and Drane Street, was a Victorian-style structure converted into eight apartments that is now a total loss.
Interim Fire Chief Jim Blackburn described the home as an “old, Victorian-style house, probably early 1900s, which we call balloon-framed construction.”
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The Waycross Fire Department received the call around 2:30 p.m. after reports that residents were trapped inside.
Upon arrival at the scene, officials noted that everyone had already evacuated thanks to the help of police officers.
Three people were treated at the scene for injuries, and one was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters remained at the site for more than 6 hours to ensure the flames were completely extinguished.
“It’s sad. We hate that it happened on Christmas, but it’s, you know, what we do,” Blackburn said, ensuring that the victims will “get the assistance they need.”
Some of that assistance will come from The Red Cross, which is helping out by providing shelter for the displaced residents.
Blackburn says the cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The state fire marshal will investigate on Thursday morning.