Athens Fire Capt. Paul Anton emerges from a home at 1222 W. Hobbs St. about 11:30 a.m. Monday. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze to one wall and a small section of the roof of the wood-frame home used only for storage by the owners, who live next door. A preliminary investigation shows the fire started in the breaker box. (News Courier/Jean Cole)

A fire likely caused by an electrical short seriously damaged one wall and moderately damaged the roof of a wood-frame home on West Hobbs Street on Monday morning, said Athens fire officials.

About nine firefighters roared to 1222 W. Hobbs St. after the owner of the home, who lives next door at 1224 W. Hobbs St., called to report smoke in the home about 11:16 a.m., which is used only for storage.

The home was burning when about nine firefighters arrived on Engine 1, Engine 3 and Tower 10 but they were quickly able to suppress it.

They did a check for anyone inside, which is routine, and then, when the fire was out, pulled out the Sheetrock and got behind the wall and checked above and below to make sure the fire was out, said Fire Chief Danny Southard and Battalion Chief Toby Carter.

Firefighters were already removing their gear and beginning to roll up the hoses crisscrossing the ground when The News Courier arrived.

“Our preliminary investigation shows the cause was probably electrical,” Southard said.

There was moderate to severe damage to the wall where the electrical box is located and moderate damage to a small section of the roof, Carter said.

Firefighters, Capt. Leslie Williams, Capt. Paul Anton, Jared James and Fire Prevention Chief Tony Kirk tried to pinpoint the cause of the fire and make sure it was out.