Smoking Litter Causes Buford Apartment Fire: Officials

Buford, GA – An early evening Saturday fire caused extensive damage to the balcony of two apartment units at the Preserve at Mill Creek Apartments, located at 1400 Mall of Georgia Boulevard, NE in unincorporated Buford. Firefighters were called to the complex after a neighbor saw smoke coming from the building and called 911. Residents of the building attempted to douse the flames with portable extinguishers before fire trucks arrived, but were unsuccessful. There were no injuries reported.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke showing from the balcony of a top floor unit in the apartment building. Firefighters deployed fire attack and supply hose lines and readied the ladder truck for possible aerial operations. Flames were lapping at the roof of the building as firefighters entered the burning apartment and began an aggressive interior attack and primary search. Additional crews arrived and were assigned to exposure protection and occupant evacuations. Initial fire crews worked fast and did contained the fire to the balcony of two apartment units. There was minor fire extension inside both apartments around the exterior doors.

Per the fire investigator, the blaze appears accidental and was sparked by improperly discarded smoking materials on the balcony. The occupant of the origin apartment was not home at the time of the fire and returned to the scene to speak with fire officials.

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The fire caused extensive damage to the balcony and residual smoke and water damage inside the apartments. Management at the complex is assisting occupants displaced from the affected units.

Firefighters are reminding citizens that October is Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County. Residents are encouraged to keep their home and family safe by following simple fire safety rules:

• Install working smoke alarms on every level of the home and in each of the bedrooms.
• Develop a home fire escape plan and practice fire drills regularly.
• Keep a portable fire extinguisher close at hand to douse a small fire.
• Look for and eliminate home hazards that could cause a fire to start or grow in intensity.

For additional information on home fire safety, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678-518-4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 5-Engines, 2-Ladder Trucks, 1-Squad, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Medic Unit, 1- Rehab Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-District Commander and 1-Fire Investigator.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett Fire Department