Ga. Christmas display featuring mannequin clinging to ledge prompts emergency response

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BERKELEY LAKE, Ga. - A metro Atlanta homeowner says he hopes he didn't offend anyone by his Christmas decoration of a mannequin with outstretched arms entangled in a string of Christmas lights and clinging to a ledge that prompted an emergency response to his house.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/12/2013 (4622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BERKELEY LAKE, Ga. – A metro Atlanta homeowner says he hopes he didn’t offend anyone by his Christmas decoration of a mannequin with outstretched arms entangled in a string of Christmas lights and clinging to a ledge that prompted an emergency response to his house.

Bubba Murphy Lake told WSB-TV (http://bit.ly/1boNJYg) that someone passing the house in Berkeley Lake with their children thought the display looked so realistic that they called 911. He says fire officials told him to take the display down — at least temporarily. The display also had a ladder toppled over in the front yard.

Murphy says homeowners in his Cobb County neighbourhood go all out with their Christmas displays every year.

This frame grab from video provided by WSB-TV Atlanta shows an Atlanta homeowner's Christmas decoration of a mannequin with outstretched arms entangled in a string of Christmas lights and clinging to a ledge. The decoration prompted an emergency response to his house. (AP Photo/WSB-TV Atlanta) MANDATORY CREDIT
This frame grab from video provided by WSB-TV Atlanta shows an Atlanta homeowner's Christmas decoration of a mannequin with outstretched arms entangled in a string of Christmas lights and clinging to a ledge. The decoration prompted an emergency response to his house. (AP Photo/WSB-TV Atlanta) MANDATORY CREDIT

Berkeley Lake is about 22 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.

___

Information from: WSB-TV, http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html

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