Firefighters battling blaze at Athens lumber yard

Fire crews at Hogan Lumber Company on Tallassee Road

By Joe Johnson

Fire crews this morning are at the scene of a large fire at a lumber yard in western Athens-Clarke County.

Hogan Lumber Company at 325 Tallassee Road is the same location where there were two similar fires nearly a year ago, in December 2022.

Officials asked motorists to avoidTallassee Road between Whitehead Road and Westchester Drive while fire operations were underway.

As with the previous blazes, official believe today's fire was caused by homeless people who are known to illegally camp on the property.

The scene this morning at Hogan Lumber Company

"It is an ongoing operation," Interim Athen-Clarke County Fire Chief Nathiel Moss said . "We aren’t confirmed as to cause, but we believe it was a warming fire for homeless that were trespassing on the property."

Fire crews and police officers are at the scene, where no injuries have been reported.

Fires on Dec. 10 and 18 were linked to campfires that were made by homeless people who had set up camp at Hogan Lumber Company, officials said.

As a result of those incidents two buildings were complete losses, along with lumber and other property stored inside, as were items around the buildings.

Classic City News will update this developing story as more information becomes available.