News Details
MAN INJURED DURING FIRE THAT DAMAGED HOME NEAR LAWRENCEVILLE
(Lawrenceville, Ga. January 1, 2019) – Firefighters responded at 5:01 p.m. to a neighbor report of a house fire in the 1300 block of Stallion Run, NE in unincorporated Lawrenceville. A passerby on Prospect Road also called 911 to report flames coming from the attached garage.
Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames showing from the garage and center portion of a single-story, wood-frame house on a slab. Firefighters were immediately met in the yard by an injured occupant. Paramedics began to assess the man as firefighters deployed water supply and fire attack hose lines. Firefighters operated in the defensive mode to knock down the bulk of the flames from the outside before making entry to conduct a primary search and complete extinguishment. The blaze caused heavy damage (total loss) to the home and contents.
The occupant was inside the house at the time the fire erupted and was alerted by the neighbor. He went outside and discovered the garage ablaze. The man reentered the burning house to retrieve a pet bird and his dog. He made it out with the bird, but was unable to locate the dog. The man was forced out as flames and smoke quickly spread to the main part of the house. He was evaluated and released at the scene by paramedics for exposure to the smoke and heat. The dog did not survive and was found by firefighters during a primary search of the structure.
A Fire Investigator responded to the scene to assist with origin and cause determination. The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under active investigation. The Fire Investigator is unable to rule out electrical components in the garage as a potential ignition source. No other injuries were reported. The man was displaced due to the damage, but declined Red Cross assistance.
EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 5-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 2-Medic Units, 1-Air and Light Unit, 1-Rehab Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-Fire Investigator and 1-PIO
FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY MESSAGE:
Firefighters are encouraging all residents to install working smoke alarms on every level of the home and in each of the bedrooms. A working smoke alarm provides early warning during a fire and gives added time to escape. Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Keep a portable (ABC) fire extinguisher close at hand to douse a small fire and have a collapsible fire escape ladder for upper floors. Look for and eliminate home hazards that could cause a fire to start or grow in intensity. Never go back inside a burning building and call 911 immediately to report an emergency.
For additional information on home fire and life safety, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678.518.4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.