Georgia Forestry personnel and firefighters will continue to monitor a fire in Athens-Clarke County over the next few days.

Firefighters got word of a fire on John Collier and Hale Road around 1:30 pm. The Athens-Clarke County and Jackson County fire units were called, along with the Georgia Forestry unit for the area.

The brush fire burned approximately an acre and a half according to Payton Turner, Chief Forest Ranger. He said the cause of the fire is unknown and is still under investigation.

“Getting this fire knocked down,” Turner said, “We all have to work together. We averted a larger fire that could have happened with these winds we’ve had.”

The fire is under control and in the “mop up stage.”

“The firefighters along with our personnel are using a lot of water, hand tools, going through anything that is smoking, any hot spots, we have to get this afternoon.”

The department now just keeps watch and hopes for more rain and less wind.

“Hopefully, these winds by nightfall will succeed.”

By Jessi Young