By Joe Johnson
A house in northeast Athens-Clarke County was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
The wood structure on Southwell Road was believed by officials to have been vacant, but an investigation at the ruins of the residence was continuing, according to Capt. Nate Moss of the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services Department.
"There have been no signs of victims with searches up to this point," Moss said. "Utility companies have just assisted us in taking steps to make the search process safer for our people."
According to Moss, firefighters were dispatched to the fire shortly after 6 a.m. when a passerby reported seeing flames on Southwell Road, a side street off Hull Road.
“On arrival at the scene, our firefighters reported that the house was fully involved,” Moss said. "Due to the extent of the fire, firefighters attacked it from the exterior of the house”
Moss added, “After the fire was extinguished, it was determined that the house is structurally unstable, so we are still at the initial phases of our investigation. The home was reportedly vacant, and no known injuries have been reported.”