Lawrenceville Fire Sparked by Child Playing With Matches

Firefighters believe a house fire in Lawrenceville was started by a child who was playing with matches.

A grandmother and her three grandchildren were at the home off the 1500 block of Bramlett Drive when the fire started Thursday afternoon, according to Gwinnett County Fire spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge. The four were able to escape unharmed and no injuries were reported.

Due to the damage done to the home, though, they and four additional family members have been displaced. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the family.

The fire was first reported by a neighbor who called authorities around 4:05 p.m. Thursday (April 25). The garage of the two-story home had heavy smoke and flames coming from it when firefighters arrived.

The fire quickly extended to the kitchen on the main level and into the attic via the pipe chase, continued Rutledge.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire from working inside, but the blaze caused heavy damage to the main level and the garage, which is where the child was playing with the matches. It also sent significant smoke and heat throughout the rest of the home, and the attic sustained moderate charring of insulation material.

Equipment at the scene included: 3-Engines, 2-Ladder Trucks, 1-Medic Ambulance, 1-Air & Light Unit, 1-Squad, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-Fire Investigator and 1-PIO.