New Year's Day Blaze Destroys Lawrenceville House: Fire Dept.

LAWRENCEVILLE, MD — A New Year's Day fire that began in a garage quickly spread and destroyed a house in unincorporated Lawrenceville, according to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services. Firefighters responded at 5:01 p.m. Tuesday to the report of a house fire in the 1300 block of Stallion Run NE.

A passerby on Prospect Road also called 911 to report flames coming from the garage attached to the single-story, wood-frame house, the fire department said. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage and center portion of the house.

The firefighters were met in the yard by the house's lone occupant, an unidentified man. He told them that he was inside when the blaze erupted and was alerted by a neighbor. He went outside and discovered the garage on fire, according to the fire department.

The man ran back into the burning house to rescue a pet bird and his dog. He made it out with the bird, but as flames and smoke spread into the house, he could not find the dog.

The firefighters put out most of the flames from the outside before entering the house to extinguish the burning embers. The fire department declared the home and its contents to be a total loss.

The dog did not survive the blaze and was found by firefighters inside the home. The unidentified man was evaluated at the scene by paramedics for exposure to the smoke and heat.

No other injuries were reported. The fire displaced the man, but he declined Red Cross assistance.

"The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under active investigation," the fire department said in a statement.

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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Image: Patch file