This update provide by the Fire-PIO on July 15, 2018: The following is an update concerning the fire this morning at the KRC Hilltops Apartments in Norcross. 

In regard to the sprinkler system, firefighters were called to the same apartment building in late March of this year by a resident reporting a water leak from the system that was causing damage in her apartment unit.  Firefighters had to shut the system off in order to stop the damage and prevent any potential electrical hazard due to the water.  Firefighters notified apartment management and instructed them to conduct a “fire-watch” until the system was back on line and to contact their sprinkler company to make repairs and restore the system.  It is unknown as to why the system was not fully functional during the fire this morning.  A Fire Inspector responded to the scene today and will be conducting additional follow up on the building’s fire suppression system in the days to come.

As far as the cause of the fire, the Fire Investigator is listing it as undetermined and currently under investigation.  They are still trying to locate the occupant of the apartment where the fire originated.  The man was home at the time and left the scene shortly after police and firefighters arrived.

The American Red Cross was contacted to assist approximately 17 occupants (adults and children) displaced from the two-story (16-unit) wood-frame building.  There was heavy fire damage to two units and smoke and water damage to several adjoining units.  The responding fire crews did a good job of stopping the spread of the fire and kept it from consuming more of the building.  The entire building was affected due to the fact that power was cut because of the damage.  The number of people displaced will likely increase based on contact with Red Cross representatives.