GWINNETT FIRE MEDIA E-NEWS RELEASE UPDATE: STORM RESPONSE ACTIVITY FOR SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2018

(Lawrenceville, Ga., July 21, 2018) – The following is an updated summary of the storm related incidents handled this morning by Fire and Emergency Services personnel.  In addition to the calls listed below, firefighters were also busy responding to a host of business and residential fire alarms activated due to the storm. 

REPORTS OF TREES DOWN ON HOUSES:

-          5500 block of Rockbridge Circle, NW in Lilburn.  Dispatched at 7:02 a.m.  Crews found a tree that fell in the middle of a house on the back of the property.  No injuries were reported.   

-          1100 block of Danube Trail, NE in Buford. Dispatched at 7:01 a.m.  Crews found a tree down on the back deck and penetrated the roof of the house.  There were no injuries reported.  Handled by Squad-24. 

-          2500 block of Cardinal Lake Circle, NW in Duluth.  Dispatched at 6:43 a.m.  Crews found a large tree down in front of the house.  The tree crushed a car in the driveway and damaged the gutter and siding on the front of the house.  There were no injuries reported.   

-          1800 block of Suwanee Valley Road, NW in Lawrenceville.  Dispatched at 7:21 a.m.  Crews found a tree down on the back deck that also penetrated the roof of the house.  There were no injuries reported.   

-          100 block of Richlake Drive, NW in Suwanee.  Dispatched at 7:30 a.m.  Crews found a tree down on the house that hit the back deck and rear wall.  Tree limbs penetrated the roof.  There were no injuries reported.   

-          1300 block of Collins Hill Road, NW in Lawrenceville.  Dispatched at 8:38 a.m.  Crews found a tree limb that penetrated the roof and ceiling on the corner of the house.  There was no actual tree down at the location.  There were no injuries reported.   

-          5300 block of Nathan Drive, NW in Lilburn.  Dispatched at 8:50 a.m.  Crews found a tree down on the house that damaged the roof over a bedroom and punctured the ceiling.  There were no injuries reported.   

-          600 Castlebrooke Way, SE in Lawrenceville.  Dispatched at 9:05 a.m.  Crews found a tree that was leaning against the house.  There was only minimal damage to the structure and no injuries were reported.   

-          5000 block of Suwanee Dam Road, NW in Suwanee.  Dispatched at 9:28 a.m.  Crews found a tree down on the back corner of the house.  The tree damaged the roofline and part of the ceiling inside the house.  There were no injuries reported.    

HOUSE FIRES:

-          1600 block of Primrose Park Road, NE in Buford. Firefighters found a working fire in the attic of a two-story house.  The occupants (two-adults) were asleep at the time and woke to a loud boom and flash of lightning.  They found the breakers tripped and began to see and smell smoke inside the house.  They discovered a fire burning in the attic and got out.  The call was dispatched at 7:16 a.m.  Firefighters quickly deployed fire attack hose lines and made a good stop on the spread of the fire.  It took fire crews about 15-minutes to bring the fire under control.  The fire was contained to the attic and part of the roof and caused extensive damage.  There was residual smoke and water damage to the second floor and part of the main-level.  The fire was caused by a lightning strike to the roof during the storm.  There were no injuries reported. 

-          1400 Indian Way, NW in Lilburn.  Firefighters found a small fire in the attic of a two-story house.  The occupants were outside safe and there were no injuries reported.  Firefighters worked fast and contained the fire to the attic.  The fire caused minor damage to attic and residual smoke in the main-living space.  The fire was dispatched at 8:06 a.m. and was caused by a lightning strike during the storm.          

REPORT OF SMOKE INSIDE A RESIDENCE:

-          1200 block of Highfield Drive, NE in Lawrenceville.  There was no active fire or smoke on arrival.

-          2900 Trotters Pointe Drive, SW in Snellville.  There was no active fire or smoke on arrival. 

WIRES DOWN CALLS:

The following is a list of streets where the caller to 9-1-1 reported wires down.  It is unknown as to whether all were actual live electrical wires or cable lines.     

-          Lakeshore Drive, NW in Duluth

-          Suwanee Dam Road, NW in Suwanee

-          Suwanee Creek Road, NW in Suwanee

-          Sangria Court, NW in Lawrenceville

-          Dollar Circle, NE in Suwanee

-          Rockbridge Road, SW in Lilburn

-          Old Peachtree Road, NW in Duluth

-          Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, NW in Duluth

-          Stone Mountain Highway, SW in Snellville

-          Kettlewood Drive, SW in Lilburn

-          Stone Mill Way, SW in Lawrenceville

Residents are asked to remain weather aware throughout the day Saturday and the weekend.  Avoid contact with downed power lines and report downed electrical lines to 9-1-1 and the appropriate utility company.  If you suspect a lightning strike to your home, be sure to check the attic and basement.  If you see smoke or fire, get-out fast and call 9-1-1.  If it’s not your house, look outside in case lightning hit the neighbor’s house.  Be prepared to call for help and provide a safe shelter for anyone out in the storm.       

There are no additional photos available from the Fire-PIO.