North Berkeley Lake Road Home 'a Total Loss'

A Saturday night fire caused extensive damage to a home at 3966 North Berkeley Lake Road. The large approximately 5,000-square-foot home is a total loss, Gwinnett Fire/Emergency Serivces Lt. Eric Eberly reported. One adult and three children were displaced by the fire, he said, but were not injured.

The fire was reported at 9:13 p.m. Fire crews found heavy smoke and flames showing from the roof of the home upon arrival about 9:21 p.m., Eberly said. Firefighters were initially challenged because the home was set off the road about 350 feet with a very steep terrain. They deployed numerous large bore attack lines in a defensive mode of operations, he said. The fire was extinguished at 10:53 p.m.

The homeowner stated that she was smoking some food on the rear deck with an electric smoker prior to noticing smoke in the residence, according to Eberly. The exact cause of the fire is being listed as undetermined and is under investigation, he said.