Firefighters continued to battle Unicoi Wildfire Sunday

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Firefighters spent Saturday and Sunday battling a wildfire on Tray Mountain north of Helen (Photo courtesy of Red Bird Media).

WHITE COUNTY, Ga. —  On Sunday, the U.S. Forest Service and Georgia Forestry Commission with support from White County Fire Services worked for a second day to extinguish the Unicoi Wildfire that has consumed 60 acres north of Helen.

The fire is believed to have started Saturday by a homeowner burning leaves on Tray Mountain in White County. Firefighters reportedly had the fire under control at one point, but dry, windy weather caused it to spread and led to a call for more firefighters to respond.

Firefighters ignited a controlled burn on Sunday in an effort to keep it from spreading while others used helicopters to draw water from Unicoi Lake and dropping it on the blaze.

Firefighters drew water from Unicoi Lake and dropped it on the fire to try to end the blaze. (Photo courtesy of Red Bird Media).

No injuries have been reported, however, one man was treated for smoke inhalation.

Public safety personnel urged residents to stay away from the area around SR 356, north of Helen and reminded citizens that anyone who starts a fire that damages another person’s property can be held liable.

 

Flames from Unicoi Wildfire rise high above Tray Mountain Sunday, (Photo courtesy of Red Bird Media).

 

 

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