Firefighters with Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services responded to an active fire at an apartment complex in Suwanee on Monday, Feb. 12.
At 10:44 a.m., fire crews responded to two 911 calls where the callers stated that there was a fire on a third-floor balcony at an apartment at The Residences of McGinnis Ferry. The apartment complex is located at 4021 McGinnis Ferry Road in Suwanee.
Upon arrival, firefighters found an active working fire with the fire concentrated in a third-floor unit and moving into the attic space. Crews quickly deployed three hose lines to put out the blaze.
Approximately five adjacent units were checked and they sustained heavy water and smoke damage. The original fire unit on the third floor suffered extensive fire damage. Crews went unit by unit and were able to confirm that everyone had safely escaped and no injuries were reported at the scene.
When firefighters spoke to the occupant of the original third-floor unit, they said that they had gone out onto the balcony to smoke and then went inside to work. She said she started hearing popping sounds coming from the balcony and noticed “a significant amount of fire,” according to a news release from the fire department. She then went to retrieve a fire extinguisher but by the time she had returned, she said the fire had grown so large that she felt she had to evacuate for her safety. The occupant fled the apartment, pulled the fire alarm and called 911. There were working smoke alarms and sprinkler systems in the apartment complex.
Between the original unit and the other units that were smoke and water-damaged, 14 people have been displaced. The American Red Cross was called to assist the residents and the apartment management will also be assisting the fire victims.
