http://www.thedahloneganugget.com/artic ... 20fire.txtBreaking News:
Blaze destroys Hidden Lake academic building
By Matt Aiken
Blaze destroys Hidden Lake academic building
An early morning fire completely gutted Hidden Lake Academy's academic building last night.
Though the two-story building was a total loss, no one was injured in the blaze.
The initial call went out to Lumpkin 911 from the Camp Wahsega Road boarding school shortly after 2:20 a.m. Thursday.
By the time Lumpkin County firefighters arrived at the scene, 90 percent of the academic building was engulfed in flames, said Lumpkin County Fire Chief Ed Eggert.
Firefighters were, however, able to save a new library addition attached to the building.
"We saved that with maybe a little water damage," said Eggert.
The multi-million dollar addition was completed last September and also houses administration offices and conference rooms.
Ultimately a brick firewall helped to prevent flames from spreading into the multi-story building, said Eggert.
Firefighters from Dawson County and the nearby Camp Frank D. Merrill Ranger camp assisted in the effort to keep the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and dorm rooms.
The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined, said Eggert.
Representatives from the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commission will investigate the scene later today (Thursday, May 24).