A massive late-night fire on Saturday destroyed the old Eddy West furniture company building on the west side of Clarkesville. The fire broke out around 10 p.m. at 531 Plantation Drive, fully engulfing the multi-level wooden structure in flames. Smoke and fire could be seen for miles.
Crews from Habersham County Emergency Services, the Clarkesville Fire Department, and Lee Arrendale State Prison battled the blaze for over three hours. State forestry officials also responded to help prevent the fire from spreading into nearby woods. Firefighters remained on scene into Sunday morning monitoring hotspots.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion during the fire, but no injuries or evacuations were reported. Beaver Dam Road was shut down to traffic, and drivers were detoured while emergency crews worked the scene.
‘We are heartbroken’
The building, once known as Habersham Plantation, was being used for storage and was filled with factory equipment, heirlooms, and furniture. It is considered a total loss.
“It’s devastating,” said Eryn Eddy Adkins, whose family owns the property. “We were just there four hours before, cleaning and getting it ready for a Labor Day sale.”
Adkins, who lives on the property with her parents, said they heard a loud lightning strike during Saturday’s storm but couldn’t find any signs of damage at the time. “Hours later, a neighbor came to tell us there was smoke—and quickly, a fire,” she said.
Others in the area reported seeing and hearing lightning. Ashley DeWalt said she was driving down Beaver Dam Road in front of the old Eddy West building around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. “When we got to the stop sign at the four-way [stop], lightning struck so close I thought it hit our car,” she said.
The building was uninsured. “Insurance wouldn’t insure the building, and all we had was liability,” explained Adkins. She plans to set up a GoFundMe campaign to help her parents with the cleanup.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
