Gwinnett Firefighters Greet New Year By Dousing 3 Blazes

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — Firefighters with the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services put out blazes early on New Year's Day that damaged two houses and several vehicles, according to a fire department statement.

The first house fire, near Loganville, appears to have been accidental and caused by spent fireworks, the fire department said. The fireworks were placed in a trash container on the side of the two-story, wood-frame house after being fired earlier in the evening to ring in the New Year.

The blaze was reported at 2:45 a.m. Tuesday at the house, in the 1600 block of Summit Glen Circle SW. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure's left side and attic, the fire department said.

Five people (three family members and two visitors) were home asleep at the time and were alerted by the sound of smoke alarms. They discovered smoke on the main-level as they fled the home.

The occupants were already outside when fire trucks arrived, and no injuries were reported, the fire department said. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced family.

Kitchen Fire At Lilburn Home

A pan of grease that caught fire on a kitchen stove caused a blaze that displaced six people, the fire department said. Firefighters responded at 4:27 a.m. to the report of a fire at a two-story house in the 2600 block of Delridge Drive SW, in unincorporated Lilburn.

A caller to 911 reported that everyone got out of the house. Crews arrived to find billowing smoke and heavy flames in the back of the house and in the attic.

The fire gutted the kitchen and spread to part of the second floor and attic before firefighters brought it under control in about half an hour. The blaze caused extensive damage, the fire department said.

The department called in the Red Cross to assist the displaced family. One adult was evaluated by paramedics for minor smoke exposure; there were no other injuries reported.

Vehicle Fire In Snellville

Before the two house fires, Gwinnett firefighters responded at 1:55 a.m. to the report of a vehicle fire at a house in the 3100 block of Octavia Lane SW in unincorporated Snellville. A caller to 911 reported a pickup truck engulfed in flames; he knocked at the door to alert the house's occupants, the fire department said.

Crews arrived to find two pickup trucks burning in the driveway, with a third pickup parked in close proximity. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 10 minutes.

There was no damage to the house and no injuries were reported. The fire destroyed the first pickup truck and heavily damaged the second.

The third pickup sustained cosmetic damage, the fire department said. The cause of the blaze is undetermined.

A Life Safety Message

Gwinnett firefighters are encouraging all residents to install working smoke alarms on every level of their home and in each bedroom. A smoke alarm provides early warning of a fire and more time to escape. The fire department also offers these tips:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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