(Buford, Ga., December 20, 2019) – Firefighters responded at 11:18pm to a neighbor’s report of a house fire in the 300 block of W Moreno Street NE in downtown Buford. The 911 caller reported the home was under construction with flames and smoke coming from windows on the front and back of the home.

Fire crews arrived on scene to find a one-story residential structure on a crawl space heavily involved in fire. Smoke and flames were coming from the windows on all sides of the home. Firefighters immediately deployed fire attack hose lines for a defensive mode of operation. Crews quickly obtained information that no one was in the home although a dog was unaccounted for at the time. Additional hose lines were deployed to surround the home and prevent fire spread to nearby structures including a detached garage on the rear of the home. A transition to interior firefighting commenced once flames were brought under control. While extinguishing hidden fire in the attic and void spaces, crews searched the structure and located a deceased dog in the home. Hot spots throughout the home were completely extinguished as smoke cleared from the home with natural ventilation. The interior of the home sustained heavy fire damage including a partial collapse of the floor into the crawl space. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries at the scene.

According to family that lives in the area, their adult male son lives at the home. A neighbor had made contact with the male prior to firefighter’s arrival to confirm he was not in the home. The family was provided information for the American Red Cross if needed.

Fire Investigators were requested to respond to the scene for origin and cause determination. The fire originated near the center of the home in the subfloor and the cause appears to be electrical in nature.

Firefighters encourage all citizens to practice home fire safety. Be sure to install working smoke alarms on every level of the home and in each bedroom. Develop a home escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Check and maintain home heating appliances such as the furnace, fireplace and space heater. For additional information on home fire safety, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678-518-4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.  

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 3-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air/Light Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 2-Fire Investigators and 1-PIO

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