Woman jumps from window to escape Norcross apartment fire

More than two dozen people were forced from their homes early Monday when a fire broke out at a Norcross apartment complex and spread through their building.

One woman leaped from a second-floor window to escape the blaze at the Las Palmas apartment complex, Gwinnett County fire officials said in a Facebook post.

Fire crews were sent to the complex off Seasons Parkway about 3:15 a.m., according to department spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge. A 911 caller reported people screaming and running away from one of the buildings, he said. When crews arrived, all three floors of the building were already engulfed in flames, and fire was shooting through the roof.

The woman who jumped from the building managed to kick out a window screen and climb out onto a roof ledge, fire officials said. Neighbors were helping her down from the roof when the first fire truck arrived at the scene.

Firefighters put out the blaze, but five apartments were left with severe fire damage, Rutledge said. Several other units were damaged by water and smoke, he said. All of the building’s residents were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, Rutledge said it appears to have been accidental. Investigators believe it started on a screened-in patio attached to a unit at the back of the building.

“Because of the magnitude of the damage, investigators are unable to rule out smoking materials or electrical components in the area of origin as the cause of the fire,” Rutledge said.

The American Red Cross of Georgia is helping the 26 residents who were displaced by the fire, spokeswoman Sherry Nicholson said.