No injuries in predawn fire at personal care home

No injuries were reported in a fire early Tuesday that forced the evacuation of an assisted living home near Stone Mountain.

The fire broke out before 5 a.m. at Phelps Personal Care on Strap Hinge Trail.

DeKalb County fire Capt. Melvin Carter told the AJC that the fire was mainly confined to a deck area on the back of the house and a nearby vehicle.

"We did have some extension into the home," Carter said. "We were able to cut it off without a whole lot of damage to the interior of the home."

The care home's owner, Maudie Phelps, said the staff got the six residents, ranging in age from 35 to 64, out of the home after the fire broke out.

"I heard 'crack, crack, pop,'" said Curtis Mitchell, one of those staff members.