24 Adults, 5 Children Lose Apartment Homes In Fire

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- A Norcross apartment fire Monday has left homeless an entire apartment complex, including 24 adults and 5 children. The primary and secondary searches conducted by firefighters did not reveal any injuries or victims.

At 4:29 p.m., Gwinnett County firefighters responded to a report of a fire at the 6400 block of Bebout Drive NW in unincorporated Norcross. The caller to 911 reported seeing flames on the roof.

Firefighters deployed two attack hose lines and made entry into the breezeway to start fighting the fire. The blaze quickly grew in size and intensity, creating hazardous working conditions for the interior crews, so they backed out of the structure.

The aerial ladder was put into operation and the battle continued from the exterior. During aerial operations, crews began losing pressure on the hose that was supplying water from the hydrant. Fire personnel traced the loss of pressure back to a water main break at the top of the complex. The command decision was made to relay water from one of the fire engines to the ladder truck that was flowing water.

SEE ALSO: Apartment Complex On Fire In Gwinnett, Firefighters On Scene

A second fire engine was strategically positioned to relay water to the first fire engine if and when that unit ran out of water to relay. Assistance from the fire department’s Water Tender Tanker truck was requested. As all of this took place, a third fire engine was repositioned to a neighboring apartment complex in search of a hydrant. A hydrant was located, approximately 500-1000 feet of large diameter hose was carried from this neighboring complex to the ladder truck, and water was obtained.

Firefighters were then able to use attack lines on opposite ends of the building while aerial operations concentrated their attack on the center of the building to extinguish the fire.

Fire investigators are actively working to determine the cause of the fire and its point of origin.

Apartment management worked with American Red Cross to make arrangements for the people who lived there.

Equipment included at the scene: 5-Engines, 2-Trucks, 1-Squad, 1-Water Tender, 1-Hazmat, 2-Medical Units, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-District Commander, and 1-Fire Investigator.