News Details
OVERNIGHT FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES BRIEFS
(Lawrenceville, Ga., July 17, 2016) – The overnight hours proved to be a busy time for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services personnel. The following is a brief synopsis of the most significant incidents. It does not include all calls for the time period.
HOUSE FIRE:
Firefighters responded on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 9:07p.m., to an occupant report of a house fire in the 1730 block of Village Drive, NE in Buford. The caller to 9-1-1 reported a stove fire in the kitchen and the home evacuated. Crews arrived to find a working fire in the kitchen of a two-story wood frame house over a basement. Firefighters made immediate entry to control the fire and conduct a primary search. The fire was contained to the kitchen and caused moderate damage to the stove and cabinets. There was extensive smoke damage throughout the rest of the house. Two occupants were home at the time and were heating a pan of oil on the stove for cooking. They were briefly distracted upstairs and returned moments later to find the kitchen ablaze. The cause of the fire appears accidental due to improper cooking practices. There were no injuries reported. A total of four occupants were displaced due to the damage. They denied Red Cross and were being assisted by friends.
Equipment at the scene included: 3-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air & Light Unit and 2-Battalion Chiefs
HOUSE FIRE:
Firefighters responded on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 2:12a.m., to a neighbor report of a house fire in the 258 block of Mill Ridge Court, SW in Lawrenceville. The caller to 9-1-1 reported visible flames. The neighbor knocked at the door after seeing a car in the driveway, but got no response. Crews arrived to find heavy fire showing from the attic and roof of a two-story wood frame house. Firefighters deployed attack hose lines and made immediate entry to combat the blaze and conduct a primary search. The check proved negative for human victims; however, two dogs were removed from the house during the search. The dogs were uninjured and were turned over to Gwinnett County Animal Welfare. The dogs were eventually left with a family friend who contacted police. The blaze was brought under control at 2:55a.m., and caused heavy damage to the second floor, attic and roof. There was water damage throughout the house. The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under investigation by the fire department. The occupants were contacted by Lawrenceville Police and were out of town at the time. There were no injuries reported.
Equipment at the scene included: 3-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Fire Investigator and 2-Battalion Chiefs
These incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of following proper fire safety practices. Citizens are encouraged to look for and eliminate fire hazards in the home. Install and maintain working smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside the sleeping area and in each of the bedrooms. Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills with the entire family. Never leave food cooking on the stove unattended. Be sure to turn burners off if you have to leave the kitchen for any amount of time. Also, being an alert neighbor means watching out for each other. Calling for help and checking on others during an emergency is always a good idea.
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. The department offers free home safety surveys and smoke alarm checks as part of its community outreach programs