A home in the City of Statesboro was damaged by fire early Saturday morning, October 20, 2024. Bulloch County 911 dispatched the Statesboro Fire Department and Bulloch County Fire Department to the 100 block of Outland Street at 1:34 a.m. after receiving reports of an active house fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the residence. They quickly launched an aggressive attack and were able to bring the blaze under control within minutes. While the home sustained significant heat, smoke, and water damage, there were no injuries reported in the incident.
The Bulloch County Red Cross disaster action team was requested to assist the victims at the scene.
While firefighters were still on the scene of the Outland Street fire, they received a second call to 111 South Apartments on Rucker Lane. The fire alarm at the apartment complex was sounding, but no visible fire was reported. After investigating, firefighters determined that someone had pulled the alarm without cause.
False fire alarms are a frequent issue for local fire departments and can pull critical resources from active emergencies. In this case, diverting firefighters from the ongoing fire on Outland Street could have had serious consequences. What may seem like a practical joke can put lives and property at risk by delaying responses to real emergencies.
Bulloch County EMS and the Statesboro Police Department also responded to the scene on Outland Street. The Statesboro Fire Department will conduct a routine investigation to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
