Brantley County woman loses home of sixty years in electrical blaze

A devastating electrical fire has claimed the Brantley County home of 91-year-old Shirley Thornton, where she had resided for over six decades.

The fire occurred on the evening of 28 April, destroying the property that had served as the heart of her family for 61 years.

According to reports from WTOC-11, Mrs Thornton had temporarily vacated the premises the previous week to escape heavy smoke from local wildfires.

Her caretaker, Justin Thornton, remained at the property to protect the structure from the advancing bushfires.

However, tragedy struck when a power surge, likely triggered by a wildfire on a nearby highway, caused a generator to ignite.

"To see it go up because of a generator or an electrical problem after all that we've put in to try to save it, it's devastating," Mr Thornton told reporters. "It's completely devastating and it breaks my heart. It makes me sick."

The loss is felt deeply by the extended family, as the home traditionally hosted gatherings for over 100 relatives.

Despite the personal tragedy, Mrs Thornton shared her gratitude for the community support she has received, while acknowledging the many others affected by the regional crisis.

Official figures from CBS News indicate that recent wildfires in south Georgia have consumed thousands of acres and destroyed at least 120 homes.

Mrs Thornton, who is currently staying with relatives, remains a cherished figure in a community now working tirelessly to recover from the widespread destruction of this season's fires.