Lilburn Fire Rescue Was A Success Due To Quick Firefighter Action

LILBURN, GA - They couldn't find him.

A neighbor called 911 about 10:30 am earlier this week and said there were flames and smoke billowing from a house across the street. Several fire and police units arrived within minutes to the house on Sheila Court in Lilburn. They were told the man who lived there was in the garage.

Everybody realized the heat and flames were too much to go in, so some water had to be sprayed on the house first.

Firefighters then got to work immediately.

They got in through a window in the garage, according to Luke Swanson with the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. The man wasn't there.

"We searched the area near the front door," said Lt. Blake Maddison with Engine 25 in Lilburn. The victim was not on the first floor.

As other crews continued to fight the fire that was burning rapidly, the search for the homeowner continued down an adjacent stairwell leading to the basement. The victim was on the stairs, unconscious.

The team of three firefighters worked together to carry the patient upstairs and
transfer his care to paramedics. The patient was transported to the hospital with lifesaving measures in progress, according to fire officials.

None of the firefighters know the man's condition but he has been in their prayers said a GCFES spokesman.

"All we know was that he was unconscious," said Trent Garrison with Engine 23 of Norcross.

Heroes? Not hardly, he said.

"We were just grateful," Swanson said, "to give him a fighting chance.