Dozens displaced after separate apartment fires in Gwinnett
Several families were displaced after two fires broke out within minutes of each other Thursday afternoon at separate Gwinnett County apartment buildings.
Firefighters were called to the first blaze just after 2 p.m. at the Sterling Glen Apartments off Indian Trail Lilburn Road in Norcross, Gwinnett fire spokesman Lt. Ryan McGiboney said in a news release. At the scene, firefighters found the back of a two-story apartment building engulfed in flames.
The fire was brought under control in less than 45 minutes, according to McGiboney. Fire investigators spoke with maintenance workers at the scene who explained it was sparked as they tried to fix an air conditioning unit. The investigators determined that the fire was started by accident from activities “consistent with AC repair,” McGiboney said.
Red Cross volunteers were on the scene and helped fire crews secure shelter for 20 people displaced by the fire, he said.
Only minutes after crews were called to the Norcross fire, a second call came in for an apartment fire in the Duluth area. Multiple people reported the fire at a playground at The Maddox in the 4300 block of Satellite Boulevard, McGiboney said.
When firefighters arrived, they found flames spreading from the playground to a nearby building. The building’s power meter was heavily damaged as the fire spread, McGiboney said, so the power was disconnected.
According to McGiboney, the fire was brought under control less than 20 minutes after firefighters were dispatched. The crew was able to work with the apartment building’s management to secure shelter for families displaced from 14 units.
No cause has been established for the second fire and the investigation remains active, the fire spokesman said. No one was injured in either fire.
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a reporter and restaurant critic for the Food & Dining team. Formerly a freelance writer and photographer with a focus on food and restaurants, he joined the AJC full-time in January 2021, first covering breaking news. He is a lifelong Atlantan and a graduate of Georgia Tech.
