Three Dawsonville families are left without homes after a midnight fire July 4.
Homes at 38, 48 and 60 Burt’s Crossing Drive in the Burt’s Crossing subdivision off Hwy. 9 have extensive heavy damage, and Red Cross has been called to assist the 11 people displaced by the fire, according to Dawson County Fire Chief Danny Thompson.
Thompson said Thursday morning that at approximately 12:15 a.m. July 5, Dawson County 911 dispatched fire units to a reported structure fire at 38 Burt’s Crossing Drive.
Upon arrival five minutes later, units found three structures well involved with fire, Thompson said. Mutual aid from Forsyth County came in the form of two fire engines and a ladder truck.
Thompson said that no civilians or firefighters were injured and that the fire was contained by 1:16 a.m.
Other homes in the vicinity were damaged, including 68 Burt’s Crossing Drive, and numbers 10 and 29 on Winding Creek Court. The homes are still livable, Thompson said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Dawson County Fire Marshal's office in partnership with the state fire marshal's office.
Doug Rainwater, a spokesman with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, said one of the homes belonged to a member of the county's SWAT team.
Samantha Vasquez with the Burt's Crossing HOA board said Thursday that Fajita Grill in Dawsonville and Pizza Azzurri in Cumming have put together fundraisers for the families. Fajita Grill will be donating 20 percent of sales after 5 p.m. Thursday, July 12 and Pizza Azzurri will be donating 15 percent of sales after 4 p.m. July 23.
Izzy Gonzales has set up a GoFundMe page for her sister and her family, who lived at 38 Burt's Crossing Drive. According to Gonzales, Amy Rubright rented the home and the family lost all of their belongings in the fire.
One of the families affected is currently staying at the Quality Inn and Suites located at 127 Beartooth Parkway, and donations can be dropped off at the front desk.
Items needed are men's shirts size 2X and pants 38x36; women's shirts and pants size XL; and clothes for a teenage, girl pants medium and shirts large. Toiletries or gift cards to buy toiletries, shoes and other items can also be donated.They also have a dog so dog food and other items are also needed.
This story will be updated.