(Duluth, Ga., December 25, 2022) - Firefighters responded to a report of an apartment fire at the Cortland Portico Apartments located at 2110 Preston Park Drive NW in Duluth at 3:00 a.m. The caller reported that an apartment in building 1000 was on fire. Another caller reported that the fire was visible on the balcony of a fourth-floor apartment.

Firefighters arrived at 3:08 a.m. and reported a three-four split, multi-family dwelling with heavy fire showing. Firefighters advanced fire hoses up the stairwell towards the fire while other crews began evacuating the residents. Meanwhile, fire apparatus operators discovered that the water supply to the closest hydrants had been closed. A working hydrant was located near the apartment complex entrance. One occupant who was trapped in his apartment was rescued from a second-story window. Due to deteriorating structural conditions, firefighters were forced to withdraw from the building. Once ladder trucks were able to knock the bulk of the fire down, firefighters re-entered the building to complete a search for fire victims. Due to structural damage, firefighters were unable to complete a search in one apartment unit on the third floor and one apartment unit on the fourth floor. Apartment management informed firefighters that they had made contact with all residents to confirm that all residents had escaped safely. The fire was under control at 5:25 a.m. Firefighters remained on the scene until 11:11 a.m.

There were no injuries reported during this incident. All firefighters rotated through rehab before returning to service. Apartment managers worked with the American Red Cross to find shelter for displaced residents who required shelter assistance. Gwinnett County Department of Transportation responded to help with icy conditions created by firefighting operations. Apartment management informed firefighters that at least 81 residents resided in the building. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 4- Engines, 2- Ladder Trucks, 2- Squads, 1-Rescue, 3- Command Staff Units, 2- Med Units, 1- MS, 1-SRU, 1- Air and Light Unit, 1- Fire Investigator, and 1- PIO.

Note: For pictures of this incident please visit our Facebook and Twitter page @GwinnettFire.

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