Hall County fire officials have not yet determined what caused a destructive house fire in the north end of the county Tuesday afternoon.

The fire destroyed a two-story house at 3644 Lakeland Road, located off Cleveland Highway in North Hall, but did not result in any injuries, according to Hall County Fire Chief David Kimbrell.

A portion of Lakeland Road was blocked for more than three hours while firefighters worked to extinguish the house fire, and the sun set before fire investigators could determine the fire’s cause.

Officials say a neighbor reported the fire at the Lakeland Road residence around 2:30 p.m. When firefighters arrived, smoke was showing from the rear of the home, which later collapsed, Kimbrell said.

Firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the fire were slowed by a lack of nearby hydrants. Firefighters had to drive back and forth from the house to a hydrant at the Oakton subdivision to fill up a tanker truck and extinguish the fire.

"It makes it harder (to fight the fire), but we’ve adapted to it because so much of the county is like this," Kimbrell said.

And when motorists made their afternoon treks home at 6 p.m., fire officials still had Lakeland Road blocked from Newton Drive to Griffin Drive as they worked to extinguish "hot spots" in the burned home.

"It’s so hot, it’s taking them a long time," said Kimbrell.

Kimbrell estimates the home, which is about 2,200 square feet, is a total loss. The family of Harold Hollowell, who lived in the home, was not at home at the time of the fire and indicated to Kimbrell they had no idea what may have started the fire.

Kimbrell said the Hollowells will stay with family members.