Heavy Winds Assist Fire In Damaging Lawrenceville Home

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – Gwinnett firefighters say heavy winds assisted fire that destroyed a Lawrenceville home Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters responded at 12:54 p.m. to a report of a fire at the 500 block of Woodburn Lane, NW in unincorporated Lawrenceville. The caller to 911 reported flames on the backside of the house.

Fire crews arrived on scene to heavy windblown flames showing on the back of the two-story single family home. Firefighters deployed fire attack hose lines and began extinguishing the fire.

(For more news like this, sign up for Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Lawrenceville — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.)

Per the incident commander, there was one person home alone at the time. The person was cooking and left the food unattended. Smoke alarms alerted her to something burning and upon returning to the kitchen, she found a fire. She immediately evacuated the home.

The fire started on the back side of the home in the kitchen, breached the wall, and went up into the attic, according to fire officials. There was extensive fire damage to the kitchen and dining room areas with heavy smoke damage noted up to the attic.

The family, consisting of four adults and two teenaged children, has been displaced but there are no injuries to report. Assistance was offered via the American Red Cross but was declined.

Firefighters encourage all citizens to practice home fire safety, especially during the busy holiday season. Be sure install working smoke alarms on every level of the home and in each bedroom. Develop a home escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Check and maintain home heating appliances such as the furnace, fireplace and space heater. 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: 3-Engines, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Squad, 1-Hazmat Unit, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Rehab Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs and 1-Fire Investigator.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett Fire Department