Smoking materials left on a balcony could be to blame for a Memorial Day fire that destroyed a Gwinnett County apartment building and displaced 14 families, officials said.
A total of 45 people were left without a home following the blaze at The Portico Apartments on Preston Park Drive. Everyone had evacuated by the time Gwinnett fire crews arrived at the Duluth-area complex shortly before 1 p.m. Monday, according to a fire department spokesman.
“Crews found heavy smoke and flames showing from the third-floor balcony of a corner apartment unit and flames already burning in the attic on arrival,” Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in a news release.
Using hose lines and the aerial ladder, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 1:40 p.m.
Investigators later determined the fire, which was ruled accidental, started on the balcony of the corner apartment. The residents were home and were among the first to smell the smoke and discover the flames, Rutledge said.
“The investigator is unable to rule out smoking materials as a possible cause for the fire,” he said. “There were no injuries reported.”
Two apartment units were heavily damaged by the fire, and five others had some degree of smoke, heat or water damage. A breezeway and the quick work of firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to other parts of the building, according to Rutledge.
The American Red Cross of Georgia was providing assistance to the 14 displaced families.
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