Lightning suspected of starting fire that destroyed Cornelia building

Firefighters move toward the incident commander at the scene of Monday’s fire on Hosanna Lane outside Cornelia. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted
A Habersham County Emergency Services firefighter looks at a Children’s Bible recovered from the burned outbuilding on Hosanna Lane. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

An outbuilding was destroyed by fire during Monday’s severe thunderstorm outside Cornelia.

Habersham County E-911 dispatched the call to 196 Hosanna Lane just after 5:30 p.m., with Habersham County Station 12 arriving first.

Units from Baldwin Fire Department and Cornelia Fire Department also responded, along with other HCES units and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.

HCES Battalion Chief Dwight McNally said at the scene lightning struck a tree beside the building and sparked the fire that destroyed the 20- by 24-foot structure and its contents.

– Habersham County