Fire Damages Apartment at Tree Corners Complex in Grayson

A fire Friday afternoon at Tree Corners Apartments in Grayson was quickly extinguished, according to Lt. Colin S. Rhoden, public information officer for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services. An off-duty police officer called in the fire at about 4:30 p.m. on March 29, and crews arrived six minutes later to see smoke pushing out around the windows of an apartment of the second floor of a three-story apartment building. Firefighters quickly evacuated the building.

Rhoden said the fire appeared to have started on the porch/deck area and was working its way into the apartment. He said good working sprinklers kept the fire from spreading into the structure and crews were able to enter the apartment and attack the fire from inside.
 
Rhoden said there was heavy smoke damage in one apartment unit and the sprinklers caused water damage.
 
"A properly installed and maintained sprinkler system saved this building from greater fire spread and aided firefighters in extinguishing the fire," he said.

Two adults were displaced, but will be able to stay in another apartment in the complex. A fire investigator determined that the fire was likely accidentally started by smoking materials improperly discarded on the deck.