PHOTO: Augusta firefighters responded to two structures fires in the span of three hours late Monday and early Tuesday.
Firefighters were called to the 2000 block of Ellis Street around 11:30 p.m. Monday and found a home engulfed in flames. According to the Augusta Fire/EMA department, an adult and two children were able to make it out safely.
The adult reportedly smelled the smoke, woke up and found the living room in flames. The adult woke the children and they escaped through the kitchen.
According to the fire department, the fire was so large it jumped to a neighboring house, causing three adults and a child to evacuate. The neighboring home sustained minor damage, but enough to temporarily displace the occupants. Authorities said the main home is a total loss and the fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical shortage.
Around 2 a.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to a second structure fire call in the 200 block of Crawford Avenue.