Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a fire that destroyed a multi-million dollar lake house in Rabun County. The blaze broke out around 10:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, at 989 Mathis Dam Road.
E-911 dispatched Rabun County Fire Services to the scene after a nearby resident reported the fire.
“The caller to 911 was across the lake and reported hearing an explosion and could see the house and trees on fire,” says assistant fire chief Justin Upchurch. He says the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office arrived first on the scene and determined no one was inside. According to Upchurch, crews from three fire stations and a fireboat arrived at the house within minutes of each other. When they got there, there was fire and heavy smoke coming from the basement and side of the three-story, 7,233 square-foot structure.