News Details
FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE EARLY MORNING HOUSE FIRES
(Lawrenceville, Ga., November 23, 2019) – Gwinnett County firefighters extinguished two early morning house fires in unincorporated Lawrenceville and Norcross. The homes sustained extensive damage with fire already venting through the roof on firefighters arrival at both addresses. No injuries were reported and the cause of each fire is under investigation.
LAWRENCEVILLE HOUSE FIRE:
Firefighters responded on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 1:56am a neighbor’s report of a house fire in the 700 block of Ashland Park Way SE in unincorporated Lawrenceville. The 911 caller advised the roof was on fire. The caller advised they were unsure if anyone was home.
Crews arrived on scene and found smoke and flames venting through the center of the roof on a one-story residence with a bonus room above the garage. Fire attack hose lines were immediately deployed for an aggressive interior fire attack and to search for victims. Due to the heavy fire involvement and partial roof collapse in the center of the structure, crews were backed out and transitioned to a defensive mode of operation. Additional hose lines were deployed to knock down the bulk of the flames and protect immediate exposures on the left and right side of the home. Firefighters evacuated the neighboring homes and checked those homes for fire spread from the radiant heat. Once flames were brought under control on the primary structure, firefighters made entry to completely extinguish hot spots and complete the search for victims. The home was found to be vacant. Utility companies were notified to secure the natural gas and power supply. The home sustained heavy fire damage to the bonus room and throughout the attic. The neighboring homes received only radiant heat damage to the vinyl siding. No injuries were reported.
The home was currently vacant due to ongoing renovations by the owner. A fire investigator was requested to respond to the scene for origin and cause determination. The fire was determined to originate in the area of an HVAC unit in the attic space adjacent to the bonus room. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.
EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 3-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air/Light Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs and 2-Fire Investigators
NORCROSS HOUSE FIRE:
Firefighters responded on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 2:14am a neighbor’s report of a house fire in the 2500 block of Wind Forest Court NW in unincorporated Norcross. The 911 caller advised the house was on fire with a vehicle in the driveway. The caller advised they were unsure if anyone was home.
Crews arrived on scene with heavy flames shooting through the roof on a two-story, split-level home. Firefighters deployed fire attack hose lines to the second floor of the home to begin controlling the flames while additional crews quickly began a primary search for victims. Through information obtained by police officers on the scene, contact was made with the homeowner who advised no one was home. The fire was brought under control in approximately 15 minutes after arriving on scene. Crews continued to extinguish hot spots and ventilate the home. The second floor, attic and roof sustained heavy fire damage with smoke and water damage throughout the remainder of the home. While there were no occupants home at the time of the blaze, firefighters did note the presence of working smoke alarms on arrival. No injuries were reported.
A single adult occupant has been displaced due to the damage and declined Red Cross assistance. A fire investigator was requested to the scene for origin and cause determination. The fire originated in an upstairs bedroom on the front side of the home and the cause is currently undetermined and under investigation.
EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 3-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air/Light Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs and 2-Fire Investigators
FIRE SAFETY MESSAGE:
Firefighters encourage all residents 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.
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