Heavy fire toll near Salem

Fire consumed a home near Salem that experienced a lightning storm Saturday afternoon. Two people inside a home on Lake Cherokee managed to get out without being hurt.  At 299 Highland Way, fire fighters encountered flames through the roof of the home.  As many as 30 personnel from fire stations in both Oconee and Pickens needed more than an hour to put a stop to the fire.  According to Charlie King, Oconee Fire Chief, once the fire was contained, fire fighters cooled down the hot spots as part of the process to determine the cause of the fire.