(Duluth, Ga., August 8, 2019) – Firefighters responded on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 7:14pm to a report from a tenant of a fire in a neighboring apartment unit in the 3033 block of Ridge Brook Trail, NW in unincorporated Duluth. This is the Bridge Water Apartments. The caller to 911 reported a fire on the balcony that was spreading fast. There was reportedly no one home in the apartment where the fire started.

Crews arrived at 7:21pm to find heavy flames and smoke showing from the balcony of a third-floor apartment on the left side of the building. Flames were already burning in the attic and breaking through the roof as the first fire truck deployed its fire attack and water supply hose lines. Additional arriving firefighters and police went door to door to evacuate the building.

Firefighters sprayed water from the truck mounted “deck gun” nozzle to knock down the bulk of the flames from the exterior as fire attack crews stretched hand lines inside to completely extinguish the fire. The blaze caused heavy damage to two apartment units and residual smoke, heat and water damage to three adjoining units. According to the Fire Investigator, the exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under active investigation. The fire appears to have started on the balcony of a second-floor apartment. The fire was brought under control at 7:35pm.

The American Red Cross was contacted to provide temporary assistance for the families displaced by the fire. The power company was not able to isolate the utility service because of the damage, resulting in the entire 12-unit building being displaced for the night. An estimated 19 people (15-adults and 4-children) were displaced according the apartment manager. Management for the complex was on the scene assisting residents of the affected building until the Red Cross arrived.

Firefighters stress the importance of following proper fire safety practices for anyone living in an apartment building. Maintain working smoke alarms inside the unit and develop a home fire escape plan. Be sure to practice fire drills regularly, so you’ll know what to do if a fire breaks out.  

For additional information on fire safety for apartment buildings, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction/Education Section at 678.518.4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com. 

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 6-Engines, 2-Ladder Trucks, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Medic Supervisor, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-District Commander, 1-Fire Investigator and 1-PIO.