(Lawrenceville, Ga., Aug. 14, 2024) - At 2:35 a.m., firefighters responded to a report of a house fire on the 3500 block of River Drive SW in Lawrenceville. The caller informed 911 call takers that her house was on fire and that the family of four adults was attempting to escape. After evacuating, the homeowner updated 911 call takers that her brother was trapped inside the structure.

Firefighters arrived at 2:42 a.m. and reported a working fire in a single-family dwelling. The homeowner met with fire crews, proclaiming that her brother had not escaped. Fire crews deployed multiple fire hoses to combat the flames and searched for the fire victim. Search teams rescued an adult male and one canine, who they then delivered to medical crews standing by. Search teams continued to search the residence for additional victims before confirming the house was vacant of any other occupants. Firefighters contended with multiple safety concerns on the scene, which included a partial collapse of the first floor and compromised structural integrity of the back deck. Crews at the scene reported a knockdown of the fire around 3:30 a.m. After the knockdown of the flames, fire crews ventilated the structure and monitored atmospheric conditions.

Medical crews transported one adult patient who sustained non-life-threatening injuries to a local hospital. Two additional adult patients were treated and released at the scene who also sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Firefighters provided oxygen to the rescued canine with a pet mask before releasing the pet to homeowners for ongoing care. The American Red Cross will assist a total of four adults displaced by the fire. Fire investigators said that the cause of this accidental fire was electrical in nature.

This incident emphasizes the importance of practicing fire escape drills in the home and having a common meeting place, such as the mailbox or a tree. Our community fire educators are available to help residents develop safe practices around the home. To speak with one of our fire educators, please call 678.518.4845 or email FirePrograms@GwinnettCounty.com.

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 5-Engines, 2- Ladder Trucks, 1- Squad, 3- Med Units, 4- Command Staff Units, 1- Air & Light, 1- Fire Investigator, and 1- PIO.

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

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