Firefighters Rescue Dog After Lightning Causes Apartment Fire

DULUTH, GA — Firefighters rescued a dog after a lightning strike set fire to the Chelsea Eighty-Eight Apartments Tuesday in Duluth. There were no injuries reported.

When Firefighters responded at 4 p.m., to a report of an apartment at 1335 Herrington Road, NW, crews found heavy smoke pushing from the attic. Occupants who were home at the time were in the process of self-evacuation when fire trucks arrived. Firefighters deployed fire attack and supply hose lines and made entry. Flames broke through part of the roof ridge as crews stretched lines to the attic and began to battle blaze. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the attic above two top floor apartments. Crews had to pull the ceiling in several adjoining units to extinguish the fire. Initial reports of a person still inside the building proved negative during primary and secondary searches.

The fire has been ruled a lightning strike in the attic during a strong thunderstorm.

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A total of twelve apartments on the left-side of the breezeway were displaced due to power being cut to part of the building and residual water and smoke damage in several units. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist approximately 21 people displaced by the damage. Residents on the right-side of the building were not affected and were allowed to return to their apartments.

Equipment on the scene included: five engines, two ladder trucks, one squad, two medic units, one air & light unit, one rehab unit, one battalion chief, one district commander and one medical supervisor.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett Fire Department