Tracer Rounds Create Potential Hazmat Fire At Firing Range

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Tracer rounds have been blamed for a Gwinnett County firing range going up in flames Saturday. There were no reported injuries as fire personnel completed their rehab and returned to service.

At 10:18 a.m., firefighters responded to a report of a business fire on the 200 block of West Crogan Street SW in the historic business district of downtown Lawrenceville. The caller to 911 reported that fire was inside of the gun range.

As crews left their fire station they could see a heavy column of smoke rising towards the skyline. Upon their arrival, fire personnel found heavy brown smoke. The building had been safely evacuated prior to their arrival.

Two hand lines were swiftly deployed as firefighters began making their attack through the front door. Combining the use of a thermal imaging camera (TIC) and information obtained from pre-incident building planning, fire crews were able to overcome the challenges that zero visibility and an unconventional floorplan presented. Per the fire officer in charge, due to the material inside of the building (steel-plated ceilings, cinderblock walls, and rubber back walls), there was a lot of heat trapped inside with the potential for a HAZMAT incident.

A foam pack was put into operation to assist with fire suppression. Crews were able to confine the blaze to the left-rear side of the building. But due to the size of the building and the location of the flames, a second water source needed to be obtained. This second water supply allowed additional crews to fight the fire from the exterior at the back of the structure. Without any windows to open up and assist in cooling the inside of the building, the command decision was made to ventilate the roof. Conditions on the roof had been compromised, making it unsafe to put anyone up there. Ground ladders were strategically positioned allowing firefighters to put a K-12 Fire Rescue Saw and a chainsaw into operation and cut open portions of the roof. The fire was extinguished in just under an hour. There is significant fire and smoke damage noted throughout the entire range. The retail side of the business was not affected.

Per the fire investigator, there is a range designed for guns and one designed for rifles at this place of business. The blaze started at the back of the range designed for rifles due to the use of tracer rounds.

Equipment at the scene included: 6-Fire Engines, 2-Ladder Trucks,1-Squad, 1-Hazmat Unit, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Special Response Unit, 1-Air & Light Unit,1-Medical Supervisor, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-District Chief, and 1-Fire Investigator.