(Norcross, Ga., January 25, 2019) – Firefighters responded to a resident report of water leaking from the ceiling in a ground-floor apartment/condo unit in the 1008 block of Olde Mill Lane, NW in unincorporated Norcross. At the same time, the owner of the second-floor unit returned home and discovered flames shooting from the top of the chimney and an active fire inside the condo. The call was quickly upgraded to a full alarm assignment for an apartment building fire and additional equipment was dispatched.

Crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke showing from the second floor and roof on the front-right corner of a two-story, wood-frame condo building. Occupants were already in the process of evacuation when fire trucks arrived and no injuries were reported. Firefighters began an aggressive interior attack on the fire with multiple hose lines. Crews were forced to back out and go defensive as flames consumed part of the roof and caused a partial collapse. Firefighters flowed water from the aerial ladder device to knock down the bulk of the fire.

The blaze caused heavy fire damage (total loss) to two top floor units and significant smoke, heat, and water damage to several adjoining units. The American Red Cross was requested to assist eighteen people (15-Adults and 3-children) displaced from the building.

Per the Fire Investigator, the fire started up high in the second-floor unit on the corner of the building and quickly spread to the attic and neighboring unit. The fire ran the attic over half the building before it was brought under control. The owner of the unit where the fire started was not home at the time and was reportedly using the gas fireplace earlier in the evening. She stated that she turned the fireplace off before leaving. The Fire Investigator was unable to inspect the unit of origin due to the magnitude of the damage and unsafe floor conditions. The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under investigation. 

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