Structure Fire on Golding Road Completely Lost

Brooks County—On January 4, 2023, tragedy hit a local family living on Golding Rd., Morven, GA. A home caught fire after a severe storm ripped through Brooks County around 2 p.m. 

Brooks County Fire Department responded to a call at 1411 military hours (2:11p.m.), of a structure on fire just after the passing of a severe storm. Neighbors reported they heard a loud boom and not long after saw smoke, reported Chief Catlett. 

Chief Catlett stated that they found fire in the attic and the fire rolling up from the floor. When firefighters entered, they could only move to the middle of the structure before having to retreat. 

Responding to the call were five engines and two tankers. One tanker was called in to assist from Lowndes County. Each firetruck holds 1,000 gallons of water and the tanker Brooks County has running holds 1,800 gallons of water. 

According to Catlett the tanker ran out of water and left to refill it in Morven when the tanker slid on the slick road (from recent rains) into the ditch. They were able to retrieve the tanker and it continued to Morven to refill, a 6-to-7-mile journey. 

As they combated the fire, ammunition in the house began to explode causing casings (shrapnel) to fly out in all directions. Firefighter Bowen Brooks was hit by two of these shrapnel, once around the knee and another in the shoulder. Brooks was scene by local EMT units on scene and released. 

As the fire raged and firefighters combated it, Chief Catlett reported it was being fed by the older wood in the structure, contained by the tin over the shingles in the roof, and several more factors that could have been in the structure. 

County Commissioner Lee Larko of District 1, posted on December 5, 2023, “It is a tragedy when someone loses a house to fire. Although there was no loss of life, memories and possessions were lost. Yesterday on Golding Road that was the case. One of our firefighters was injured. If anyone has video of the fire, could you please contact me. We need to ensure that our Fire Department did everything they could to save the structure and protect our community.” 

Responses to the County Commissioners post contained several citizens who were saddened by this, others who cared, and comments pertaining to Brooks County’s decision to close East Brooks who could have helped with the response and possibly turned out a better outcome. 

Upon interviewing Chief Catlett on concerns of the citizens’ postings he reported that when he came on as Chief he had a 3 part plan. He stated they were in the 2nd phase of that plan. First phase was making certified full-time firefighters, second was to form holding tanks for water throughout the county in order to have quicker access, better engines and tankers. 

Catlett also stated that East Brooks is being renovated but has stationed three certified firefighters, one engine and one tanker to that area. The new facility is at 50 Brookfield Drive. He also stated that the volunteers from East Brooks were welcome to volunteer with the Brooks County Fire Department and urges them to consider doing so. 

Upon hearing of the water tanks being placed sporadically around the county Catlett said the volunteer stations would be holding those tanks. Further consideration and hopes are to team up with local farmers who have fields with pivots close to roads so the fire department can hook into those pivots. That is in the works. 



“I hate it when we lose anything to fire,” said Catlett, “but it does happen unfortunately. Luckily no one was severely injured, our firefighter sustained minor injuries, and the family was uninjured.” 

The Structure was located at 400 Golding Road, Morven, GA.