Missing Bainbridge woman found alive after suspicious house fire

A 46-year-old Bainbridge woman reported missing after a suspicious house fire was found alive Wednesday in a wooded area about 2.5 miles from her home, Putnam County authorities said. Britney Gard, who had been entered as a missing endangered person after smoke was reported at her residence on October 1, called 911 from Hall Woods Nature Preserve and was located by law enforcement and emergency personnel, then taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Sheriff's deputies received a call about a structure fire at Gard's home at approximately 7:39 p.m. on October 1. Fire crews found smoke coming from the house but no one inside, and investigators later classified the blaze as suspicious. Gard had last been seen on the evening of September 30 and was reported missing after she did not show up at her daughter’s volleyball game the following day. Family members told authorities her car and purse remained at the home.

The search for Gard lasted about a week and involved multiple local, state and federal assets, officials said. Civil Air Patrol crews and a volunteer community emergency response team searched crop fields and wooded areas near the residence, including roughly 75 acres of...