(Norcross, Ga., May 29, 2018) – Gwinnett County firefighters responded at 2:40 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 to a report of a fire at a townhome in the 900 block of Summer Place, NW in Norcross.  The caller to 9-1-1 reported that something was on fire in the kitchen.   

Crews arrived to find heavy fire involvement on the first and second floor of a two-story townhome unit in the middle of the building.  Firefighters entered the unit with attack hose lines to extinguish the fire and conduct a primary search.  Firefighters located and removed an unconscious female from the second floor of the burning townhome during the initial search.  The woman was transported by ambulance to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville in critical/life threatening condition.  The woman was pronounced dead a short time after arrival at the hospital.  

Two other adult occupants of the townhome unit escaped unharmed and were already outside and safe when fire crews arrived.  The two surviving occupants are currently talking with police.  Based on the fatality situation within the city limits, the Norcross Police Department requested assistance from the GBI.  Gwinnett County fire investigators are currently working with Norcross Police and the GBI to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.  The exact cause of the fire and manner of death are currently undetermined and under active investigation.  Specific information about the investigation is not being released at this time. 

The Fire-PIO is unable to release the name of the victim or specific injury information based on Federal Patient Privacy Laws known as HIPAA.  The name of the victim and manner of death will be released by the Medical Examiner’s Office or the GBI when available.