(Dacula, Ga., February 2, 2020) – Firefighters responded at 4:36am to a police officer report of a business fire at Hamilton Plaza located at 1342 Auburn Road NE in Dacula. A Gwinnett County police officer doing routine patrol in the area noticed smoke and flames coming from one of the suites in the strip shopping center.

Crews arrived on scene of a one-story commercial structure with smoke and flames erupting from a single suite in the middle of the strip shopping center. Flames consumed the suite from front to back and broke through the roof before firefighters arrived at the scene. Fire attack hose lines were immediately deployed to suites on both sides of the fire unit for containment. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke, heat and fire conditions inside the suite on the left side of the fire unit and kept in check while two aerial ladders were put into operation and began flowing water from above. Entry into the suite on the right side of the fire unit found smoke but no flames. The aerial ladders were able to get the bulk of the fire knocked down so that hose lines on the ground could complete extinguishment. Positive pressure ventilation was performed to remove residual smoke from the affected businesses and utilities were secured. No injuries were reported.

A total of five businesses were affected by the fire. Logan’s Boutique was the original fire unit and is completely destroyed. Unique Tan located on the left side of the fire unit suffered extensive fire damage. Tobacco Palace and Del Rio Mexican Grill sustained moderate smoke and water damage. CrossFit Pure had residual smoke inside the business and was ventilated by fire crews. The remaining businesses on the entire right side of the strip shopping center were not damaged by fire. The strip shopping center does not have automatic fire sprinklers and the two businesses with extensive fire damage did not have monitored fire alarm systems.

Fire investigators were requested to respond to the scene for origin and cause determination. Fire investigators confirmed the fire originated in Logan’s Boutique and the cause is undetermined and under active investigation. 

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 5-Engines, 2-Ladder Trucks, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air/Light Unit, 1-Rehab Unit, 1-Medical Supervisor, 1-Battalion Chief, 1-District Commander, 2-Fire Investigators and 1-PIO