Gwinnett firefighters rescue man and dog from house fire

Photo credit: Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Aug. 14, 2024) – At 2:35 a.m., this morning, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services firefighters responded to a report of a house fire on the 3500 block of River Drive SW in Lawrenceville. The caller went out to 911 from the homeowner who said the house was on fire and that the family of four adults was attempting to escape. She then called back, letting 911 know that her brother was still trapped inside the home.

“Firefighters arrived at 2:42 a.m. and reported a working fire in a single-family dwelling. The homeowner met with fire crews, proclaiming that her brother had not escaped. Fire crews deployed multiple fire hoses to combat the flames and searched for the fire victim. Search teams rescued an adult male and one canine, who they then delivered to medical crews standing by,” Capt. Ryan McGiboney, WCFES public information officer said in a press release. “Search teams continued to search the residence for additional victims before confirming the house was vacant of any other occupants.”

McGiboney said firefighters contended with multiple safety concerns on the scene, including a partial collapse of the first floor and compromised structural integrity of the back deck. By 3:30 a.m., crews reported the fire had been knocked down and fire crews ventilated the structure and monitored atmospheric conditions. He said crews transported one adult with non-life-threatening injuries to a local hospital and two other adult patients were treated and released at the scene. Firefighters provided oxygen to the rescued dog with a pet mask before releasing it to the homeowners.

“The American Red Cross will assist a total of four adults displaced by the fire. Fire investigators said that the cause of this accidental fire was electrical in nature,” McGiboney said, adding “This incident emphasizes the importance of practicing fire escape drills in the home and having a common meeting place, such as the mailbox or a tree. Our community fire educators are available to help residents develop safe practices around the home.”

To speak with one of the fire educator, you can call 678-518-4845 or email FirePrograms@GwinnettCounty.com.