Son Killed In Lilburn Blaze While Trying To Save Family Dog

Updated 2:16 p.m.

LILBURN, GA — Smoke from a fire killed a son who tried to save the family dog Sunday at a home in the 200 block of Sandra Drive, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said.

Firefighters responded around 6:15 p.m. to the house fire in Lilburn. Fire officials said a 911 caller told dispatch people were still inside the burning home.

During the response, fire officials said they located heavy fire coming from the garage and main living area with flames extending into the attic.

A mother and son were the only ones home at the time of the blaze, fire officials said. The son noticed the home was on fire and woke his mother for evacuation, fire officials said.

A neighbor told investigators the son helped the mother get out of the home before firefighters arrived but went back into the house to retrieve the family dog, fire officials said.

When crews first arrived, they were told a male remained inside the two-story home, fire officials said.

Lilburn officers helped with door control while firefighters pulled one person from the entryway of the home, fire officials said.

There was no one else inside the home; however, the house was heavily damaged from smoke and water, fire officials said.

The son died from smoke conditions, and a Lilburn officer who suffered minor injuries was released at the scene, fire officials said. The son was not identified.

One person had to be taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and another was assessed and released at the scene, fire officials said.

They told Patch "the mother was not the person with life-threatening injuries, and the dog is safe and reunited with the family."

There were no working smoke alarms in the home at the time of the fire, and two adults were displaced, fire officials said.

The American Red Cross is offering assistance. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Patch has reached out to fire officials for more information.