Dog Dies In Sunday Lawrenceville House Fire; Smoking may Be Cause

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - A family pet died in a house fire Sunday afternoon that may have been caused by a cigarette.

A neighbor reported flames about 3:30 p.m. coming from a house on Brookshire Place, SW, in unincorporated Lawrenceville.

Crews arrived to find the split-level wood frame house fully engulfed. Firefighters made entry to battle the blaze and conduct a primary search. There was no vehicle in the driveway and no one was found inside the house.

A deceased dog was discovered by search crews as they cleared the residence. The fire caused extensive damage to the structure.

The occupant was contacted by a neighbor and returned home as firefighters were extinguishing the flames. The man said he left the house earlier in the day and was not at home when the fire started.

The blaze appears accidental and may have been the result of discarded smoking materials on the exterior of the house.

The man was displaced due to the damage, but declined assistance from the American Red Cross.