Midnight was approaching and the 9-1-1 Center dispatchers were getting ready for the slower early morning hours. But suddenly the telephone rang and a dispatcher answered.

“Chattooga 9-1-1.”

“Yes. I wanted to report a fire on Katie Lane,” a male voice blurted out over the phone.

“A fire?”

“Yes ma’am. A house fire,” the unknown male caller said.

“A house fire? Okay where is it at? On Katie Lane?”

“Yes ma’am.”

Okay. Is there anyone in the house? . . .  Sir. Sir. Sir,” the dispatcher said as the phone line went silent.

The Summerville Fire Department, the Trion Fire Department and the Hays State Prison Fire Units jumped to action. The county's ambulance service and deputies began roaring up Bill Rich Hill into the dark night skies. They searched for hints of a flame that might be piercing the skyline with an orange glow.

But, there wasn’t a fire.

There wasn’t a fire on Denson Road.

There wasn’t a suicidal man lying in the middle of Beavers Road.

And, there wasn’t a fire on Williams Road.

All the calls were about the same. They were brief and alleged false crimes or emergency situations.

“. . . Orchard Hill Road. There are shots fired,” the prankster said.

“You say shots fired?” the 9-1-1 operator asked.

“Yes there is.”

“Where at?”

“It’s the eleventh house on the left on Orchard Hill Road.”

“The eleventh house on the left. . . What is your name and phone number sir? Sir? Sir?” the dispatcher said into a silent receiver.

All these were false calls and now Chattooga County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Larry Kellett is tracking down the prank caller.

The News obtained a copy of the 9-1-1 calls and learned that two different people called in these prank calls. Except for one prank call to Denson Road, it was the same prankster. After repeatedly listening to the 9-1-1 calls closely, one can hear several male guys snickering and talking in the background. Other clues could also be gleamed for the recordings.

If anyone has any information on who is making these prank calls, dial 9-1-1 and ask dispatchers to contact Inv. Kellett, or call the sheriff’s office at 706-857-3411.