(Lilburn, Ga., December 26, 2019) – Firefighters responded at 1:57am to a neighbor’s report of a house fire on the 400 block of Marble Springs Road, NW in unincorporated Lilburn. The caller to 911 advised that smoke and flames were coming from the house.

Crews arrived to find heavy fire venting out the second-story windows and in the attic on the back-left corner of a two-story, wood-frame house on a slab. Firefighters deployed fire attack hose lines and immediately entered the home to control the fire and conduct a primary search for victims. There was no one found inside the house and no injuries were reported.

The blaze caused heavy damage to the second floor and attic and burned away part of the roof over the back of the house. The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under active investigation.

The occupants are renting the home and were not at the scene when firefighters and police arrived. A police officer was able to contact one of the occupants via cellphone as crews brought the incident under control. An occupant returned home and spoke with the Fire Investigator at the scene.   

FIRE SAFETY MESSAGE:  

This fire serves as a good reminder to practice fire safety every day. Be sure to install working smoke alarms on every level and in each of the bedrooms. Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Have a portable multi-purpose (ABC) fire extinguisher close at hand to douse a small fire. Look for and eliminate home hazards that could cause a fire to start or grow in intensity.

Knowing what to do when a fire breaks out could make all the difference in getting out alive. Stay low to the floor and exit out the nearest door or window, if it’s safe to do so. Close interior doors as you go to confine the fire and smoke. Have a collapsible fire escape ladder upstairs to use if traditional means of escape are blocked by smoke or flames. Call 911 from outside and wait for the firefighters to arrive. Never go back inside a burning building.

If you are trapped on an upper floor, get as far away from the fire as possible and close the door to the room you are in. Stuff a sheet or clothing under the door to keep the smoke out. Open the window slightly for fresh air intake and stay low to the floor. Hang something bright colored out the window to signal firefighters. Be prepared to close the window if smoke conditions worsen. Call 911 and give the emergency call-taker your location inside the house. Remain calm, but be sure to stress the fact that you are unable to escape. The call-taker may be able to provide helpful instructions.  

According to the National Fire Protection Association, while 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47% of those have practiced it.

For additional information on home fire prevention and safety, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction/Education Section at 678.518.4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.   

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 3-Engines 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Medic Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-Fire Investigator and 1-PIO