Sheriff: Lightning suspected in Tennille assisted living facility fire

The facility sustained fire, smoke and water damage.

TENNILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — All residents of the Tennille Assisted Living Facility were safely evacuated and reunited with their families Sunday after a fire that preliminary reports suggest was caused by lightning, according to Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran.

Cochran wrote in a post on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page that 911 received a call about the fire at the facility on North Main Street around 1:30 p.m.

First responders saw smoke and fire inside the facility when they arrived. Fire departments from several area stations responded and extinguished the fire within minutes, according to Cochran.

Staff members and emergency personnel evacuated all occupants. The facility sustained fire and smoke damage, along with moderate water damage.

“I’d like to commend the staff and all emergency services teams that responded and assisted with this situation,” Cochran wrote.