(Lawrenceville, Ga., November 20, 2021) – Firefighters responded at 9:12 P.M. to a reported house fire on the 450 block of Highgate Drive in Lawrenceville. The caller to 9-1-1 stated her husband was locked inside the bedroom and he had set something on fire. The caller got the rest of the family out of the house but believed her husband was inside the bedroom.

Firefighters arrived on scene with light smoke showing. A walkaround was performed with light smoke coming from the upstairs. Crews entered the structure and immediately went to the upstairs bedroom where the resident was reported to be. They initially encountered dark smoke but no visible fire. Conditions quickly deteriorated and two firefighters called a “mayday”, signaling to those on scene that they were in trouble. The firefighters were quickly found and were led out of the structure to awaiting med crews for evaluation. The incident commander followed established mayday procedures and all crews reported in for accountability. Once everyone was accounted for, lines were put in place to bring the fire under control.

Two firefighters suffered burn injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their injuries are non-life-threatening and they are currently with family members and representatives from the department.

A fire investigator responded for cause determination. The male resident was outside of the house prior to the arrival of firefighters and admitted to authorities that he started the fire but claimed it was by accident. That individual was taken into custody on scene by Gwinnett County Fire Investigations, and is being charged with Felony Arson and Domestic Violence. The fire was set in an upstairs closet while the man’s wife, children and mother-in-law were in the home. The wife was alerted by the smoke alarms and was able to get the rest of the family outside to safety.

Firefighters would like to emphasize the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms inside your home. In this instance, the smoke alarms helped to alert the occupants allowing them sufficient time to exit the home safely.

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: Engines- 4, Ladder Trucks-2, Squads-1, Medic Units-3, Chief Officers-4, Air and Light Units-1, Fire Investigators-1 and PIOs-1.

(Lawrenceville, Ga., November 20, 2021) – Firefighters responded at 9:12 P.M. to a reported house fire on the 450 block of Highgate Drive in Lawrenceville. The caller to 9-1-1 stated her husband was locked inside the bedroom and he had set something on fire. The caller got the rest of the family out of the house but believed her husband was inside the bedroom.

Firefighters arrived on scene with light smoke showing. A walkaround was performed with light smoke coming from the upstairs. Crews entered the structure and immediately went to the upstairs bedroom where the resident was reported to be. They initially encountered dark smoke but no visible fire. Conditions quickly deteriorated and two firefighters called a “mayday”, signaling to those on scene that they were in trouble. The firefighters were quickly found and were led out of the structure to awaiting med crews for evaluation. The incident commander followed established mayday procedures and all crews reported in for accountability. Once everyone was accounted for, lines were put in place to bring the fire under control.

Two firefighters suffered burn injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their injuries are non-life-threatening and they are currently with family members and representatives from the department.

A fire investigator responded for cause determination. The male resident was outside of the house prior to the arrival of firefighters and admitted to authorities that he started the fire but claimed it was by accident. That individual was taken into custody on scene by Gwinnett County Fire Investigations, and is being charged with Felony Arson and Domestic Violence. The fire was set in an upstairs closet while the man’s wife, children and mother-in-law were in the home. The wife was alerted by the smoke alarms and was able to get the rest of the family outside to safety.

Firefighters would like to emphasize the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms inside your home. In this instance, the smoke alarms helped to alert the occupants allowing them sufficient time to exit the home safely.

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: Engines- 4, Ladder Trucks-2, Squads-1, Medic Units-3, Chief Officers-4, Air and Light Units-1, Fire Investigators-1 and PIOs-1.