DORAVILLE - (Thursday, February 03, 2011) Firefighters responded to a report of an apartment fire at 7090 Winter Trail Road, Doraville on Thursday, February 03, 2011 at 5:53 a.m.  The initial caller was a resident within the complex.  

Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire involvement in several second floor apartment units and flames already shooting from the roof over the right-side.  Gwinnett County police were the first to arrive and assisted residents who were already going door-to door to alert occupants.  Everyone is safe and accounted for and there were no injuries reported. 

First-due fire crews deployed attack lines to battle the blaze and protect exposures.  Firefighters entered the breezeway to stop the spread of the fire and conduct a quick primary search of the burning apartments.  They were forced to back-out moments later due to heavy fire and collapse conditions.  Crews had to fight the fire from outside and flowed water from two aerial ladder trucks and multiple hoselines to knock down the bulk of the fire.  The blaze immediately threatened a second apartment building (to the right) as flames and heat intensified.  The fire caused minor cosmetic damage to the exterior wall siding on the neighboring apartment building but did not extend inside. 

Firefighters experienced low water pressure as they battled the blaze.  This is not uncommon when battling apartment fires in the area.  "Because of the tremendous amount of water and the pressure needed to control the fire, it can quickly tax the water system," said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge.  A fire engine from DeKalb Fire Rescue was called to the scene to standby in the event that assistance was needed with an additional water supply.  "The unit was not needed and they were returned to service.  The unit from DeKalb was requested because of the close proximity to the county line," Rutledge said.    

The cause of the fire is undetermined under investigation.  Fire investigators believe the fire started in the area of a top floor apartment on the right corner of the building.  There is no foul play suspected at this point.  The American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to approximately 25 people (sixteen families) displaced by the damage. 

THE FIRE BUILDING:

 The fire building sustained heavy damage due to the fire.  

• This is a two-story wood frame apartment building with a total of twenty separate apartment units. 
• The fire caused some degree of damage to ten-plus units of the building.  Some have heavy fire damage and others have smoke, heat, and water damage. 
• Four units in the building were vacant (not lived-in) at the time of fire. 

 Additional media information will be sent by the Fire-PIO when available. 

INCIDENT DATE: 02/03/11
TIME DISPATCHED: 5:53 A.M.
TIME UNDER CONTROL: 7:08 A.M.
LOCATION: 7090 WINTER TRAIL ROAD IN DORAVILLE