Apartment Fire In Gwinnett County Leaves 19 People Displaced

An estimated 19 people have been displaced following an apartment fire Thursday evening at an apartment in the 3033 block of Ridge Brook Trail in Duluth. The fire was reported around 7:14 p.m. at Bridge Water Apartments, Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services (GDFE) said in a news release.

The caller to 911 reported a fire on the balcony that was spreading fast. There was reportedly no one home in the apartment where the fire started, GDFE added.

"Crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke showing from the balcony of a third-floor apartment on the left side of the building. Flames were already burning in the attic and breaking through the roof as the first fire truck deployed its fire attack and water supply hose lines. Additional arriving firefighters and police went door to door to evacuate the building," GDFE said.

The blaze caused heavy damage to two apartment units and residual smoke, heat and water damage to three adjoining units. According to the fire investigator, the exact cause of the fire is undetermined and under active investigation. The fire appears to have started on the balcony of a second-floor apartment.

The American Red Cross was contacted to provide temporary assistance for the families displaced by the fire. The power company was not able to isolate the utility service because of the damage, resulting in the entire 12-unit building being displaced for the night, GDFE said. Management for the complex was on the scene assisting residents of the affected building until the Red Cross arrived.