Firefighters responded at 7:10 a.m., to a report of a house fire in the 500 block of Hoke OKelly Mill Road, SE in (unincorporated) Loganville.  The caller to 9-1-1 reported smoke visible and someone still inside.  The fire was reported by a relative of the victim, who lives close by on the property.  A Gwinnett County police officer was the first to arrive and was unable to immediately enter the home due to smoke and fire conditions.

Firefighters found heavy smoke showing from an older single-story farmhouse and flames inside.  Crews quickly deployed attack hose lines and entered the home to search for the victim and control the fire.  Interior crews were immediately challenged with heavy content loading inside the house.  Search crews located an elderly adult male victim unconscious and unresponsive inside the home.  Paramedics initiated advanced life support measures and transported (emergency status) to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville.  The man was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the hospital. 

Per Fire Investigators, the blaze appears accidental and was sparked by an electrical source.  The fire caused extensive damage inside the house.  There was no one else inside the home and no other injuries were reported.  A smoke alarm inside the house was heard sounding as firefighters overhauled the charred debris and doused hotspots.  

The Fire-PIO is unable to provide the identification of the deceased man due to Federal Patient Privacy Laws known as HIPAA.  The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the exact cause of death.

This fire is a tragic reminder of the importance of following proper home fire safety practices.  Look for and eliminate home hazards that could cause a fire to start.  Install working smoke alarms on every level and keep exit pathways clear of obstructions.  Know two-ways out and have an escape plan.        

For additional information on home fire safety, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678.518.4845 or e-mail fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.  

INCIDENT DATE: 03/18/17

TIME DISPATCHED: 7:10 A.M.

TIME ARRIVED: 7:16 A.M.

TIME UNDER CONTROL: 7:51 A.M.

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 4-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 2-Medic Units, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Rehab Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 4-Fire Investigators and 1-PIO

Dropbox Video/Photo Link from the scene with PIO Soundbite:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/01jc7qconfvft81/Gwinnett%20%20-%20Fatal%20House%20
Fire%20-%20Hoke%20OKelly%20Mill%20Road%20in%20Loganville%2003-18-17.mp4?dl=0