Dog Dies, 35 Displaced In Sunday Apartment Fire

NORCROSS, GA -- One dog died and 35 residents, 20 adults and 15 children, have been displaced after an apartment fire Sunday night in the 1100 block of Forest Vale Way NW in unincorporated Norcross. There was no loss of human life.

Fire investigators have ruled the fire accidental and electrical in nature. The fire originated in the area of a power strip. The fire is not related to the apartment fire at the same complex on May 30, 2019. The fire on that date started in the wall between adjoining apartments and the exact cause is undetermined but not suspected to be criminal in nature.

The caller to 911 reportedly saw flames and smoke coming from an apartment.

As crews headed in the direction of the dispatched address they could see a thick column of black smoke on the skyline. Upon their arrival, firefighters found heavy flames on the rear side of an apartment building.

Fire personnel went to each unit in the affected building and ensured that everyone had safely evacuated.

Per the district commander, crews were successful in extinguishing the blaze but there is extensive fire damage to both sides of the breezeway, most notably to the two units upstairs on the backside of the building. There is extensive smoke and water damage noted to the two lower units on the backside of the building. A walkthrough of the four units on the front of the breezeway revealed a hole in the roof and extensive smoke damage.

Apartment management is taking inventory of available units within the complex to provide temporary relief for the tenants. Assistance from the American Red Cross will be provided to any remaining tenants that the complex will not be able to accommodate.

Equipment at the scene included: 5-Engines, 2-Trucks, 1-Squad-20, 1-Medical Unit, 1-Medical Supervisor, 1-Air & Light Truck, 1-Special Response Unit, 2-Battalion Chiefs, 1-District Commander, and 1-Fire Investigator.