Clayton County fire crews were still extinguishing hot spots Wednesday morning from a house fire that started Tuesday night, authorities said.
The house in the 10900 block of Panhandle Road in Hampton was described as a “hoarder house” by David Vazquez, battalion chief and spokesman for Clayton County fire.
The amount of stuff in the house made it difficult for firefighters “to put out all the hot spots,” Vazquez said. “It was difficult for our crews to move around.”
The resident, identified as Tina Nelson, was pulled from the house and treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation, Vazquez said.
Nelson apparently left her house and started knocking on neighbors’ doors when the fire began, Vazquez and a neighbor said.
She then returned to the house and became trapped, Vazquez said.
The neighbor, Connie Hardegree, said she was wary of Nelson. “I stay away from this lady,” Hardegree said.
Traffic on Wednesday morning was reduced to one lane on Panhandle Road, he said, with Clayton County police handling traffic flow.
Daylight helped firefighters’ efforts, Vazquez said. Crews were expected to finish by midmorning. The cause of the fire still has not been determined.
