(Norcross, Ga., Nov. 15, 2019) - Firefighters responded on Friday, November 15, 2019 at 3:34am, to an occupant’s report of a house fire on the 200 block of Summerour Street NW in Norcross. The caller to 9-1-1 reported seeing flames in the kitchen.

Due to the street name dispatched, personnel anticipated an active fire at an apartment complex. As crews arrived on the scene, they found fire and smoke pushing out of the right side of a one-story, single-family residence on a basement. The additional units requested to assist were canceled and crews on-scene went to work. A pre-connected hand line was deployed to begin fighting the flames that had started melting the carport. Firefighters were met with heavy fire as they attempted to enter the residence through the kitchen. An aggressive attack enabled crews to gain control of the fire and extinguish it before it could advance beyond the adjacent living room. Per the Incident Commander, the occupants were asleep when they heard sounds of a leaking faucet in the kitchen. They tried to decipher the noise and its source by opening the cabinet under the kitchen sink which is where they found fire. The rest of the family was made aware of the situation, and everyone was able to safely evacuate as the phone call for help was made. Smoke alarms in the home were inoperable.

A Fire Investigator confirmed the fire started in the kitchen. While he cannot rule out the cause to be electrical, the exact cause of the fire is undetermined.  Extensive fire damage is noted in the kitchen and living room with heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the residence. Assistance from the American Red Cross was offered to the displaced family of five (four adults and one child) but declined.  There were no reported injuries before, during, or after suppression activities.

Firefighters encourage all citizens to practice home fire safety by doing the following:

• 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, 2-Ladder Trucks, 1-Squad, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air/Light Unit, 1-Battalion Chief, 1-District Chief, 1-Fire Investigator and 1-PIO.

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