By CINDY BISHOP

cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com

ARABI — An elderly Arabi man and his granddaughter were forced out into the cold early Saturday morning after their home caught fire, but luckily neither was injured.

Units with Crisp County Fire-Rescue responded to the fire shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday at the home of George W. Hauesler, 82, who lived at 216 Allied Road.

According to CCFR Chief Ray Lunsford, the fire appears to have started between a back bedroom and the utility room of the house.

“Mr. Hauesler and his adult granddaughter, who was staying there helping him out...cooking and cleaning...had to get out pretty quick,” said Lunsford. “It was pretty cold at that time of the morning...they had to get out with only what they were wearing...they weren’t able to save anything from inside the house. That’s just devastating to lose a lifetime of memories like that. We’re just glad there was no one injured.”

Lunsford said Hauesler’s insurance company had sent representatives to survey the damage Monday and were working to get things rolling so the family could begin to pick up the pieces and begin to rebuild their lives.

“Our [CCFR] response time was good and we were able to knock the fire down pretty quick, but it was just way ahead of us by the time we got there,” said Lunsford.

Later that afternoon, Lunsford said firefighters also had to respond to Recycle USA where three plastic bins had caught fire. Luckily, there was a worker on scene who was able to direct firefighters right to the fire, which was quickly extinguished. Damage was contained to the area where the bins were located.