Fire heavily damages historic Georgia courthouse

A fire tore through a historic courthouse in Georgia, causing heavy damage and leaving part of the building collapsed, according to officials and local media.

The fire was reported at about 2:20 p.m. at the Floyd County Historic Courthouse in Rome, about 65 miles northwest of Atlanta, according to Floyd County government. The courthouse was evacuated, and police cleared parts of Broad Street as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord said all employees inside the building were safely evacuated.

Crews with the Rome-Floyd Fire Department responded to contain the blaze, while roads in the downtown area were blocked and police evacuated parts of Broad Street.

County officials said the courthouse was undergoing renovations when the fire began. The cause has not been determined and remains under investigation.

The courthouse dates to 1893 and is now used as a tag office, according to WXIA. The outlet reported the building had been undergoing a $4 million renovation, with brick and gutter work beginning this month.

WXIA also reported that workers had been welding on the roof before the fire broke out. Officials have not confirmed whether that work was connected to the fire.