Firefighters responded at 7:09 a.m., to a report of a business fire in the 5875 block of Buford Highway, NW in Norcross.  The caller was an employee of the business who discovered smoke and fire inside as they were opening the shop on Monday.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the single-story automotive shop, which sits adjacent to Buford Highway, between Beaver Ruin Road and Jimmy Carter Boulevard.  Fire trucks and water-supply hose lines blocked part of the busy highway during the early morning commute.  Norcross Police and Georgia DOT directed traffic around the incident and were able to keep motorists moving.

The blaze was burning heavily in a storage area above the office and sent significant smoke and heat throughout the automotive shop.  Several vehicles inside the shop at the time of the fire sustained some degree of heat and smoke damage.  The department’s Hazardous Materials Unit responded to the scene to check for potential petroleum product due to water runoff from firefighting efforts.  The runoff was contained by interior drains within the shop and did not pose a threat to the environment.   

The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under investigation by the Fire Department.  Fortunately the business was closed at the time the fire erupted and there were no injuries reported.  The fire caused heavy damage.        

Dropbox Video/Photo Link with Fire-PIO Soundbite: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o35m52ggf12dcdo/Gwinnett%20-%20Business%20Fire%20-%20Norcross%20Truck%20Automotive%2003-27-17.mp4?dl=0 

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 5-Engines, 2-Ladder Trucks, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Rehab Unit, 1-Hazmat Unit, 1-Air & Light Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-Deputy Chief, 3-Fire Investigators and 1-PIO

INCIDENT DATE: 03/27/17
TIME DISPATCHED: 7:09 A.M.
TIME ARRIVED: 7:12 A.M.
TIME UNDER CONTROL: 8:01 A.M.