A Gwinnett County home was destroyed by fire on a frigid Tuesday.
Firefighters battled the blaze at the two-story home in the 3800 block of Hunting Ridge Drive in Lilburn after getting the call around 5:30 p.m.
The three occupants home at the time — a father and two teenage sons — already had gotten out safely and no injuries were reported, Capt. Tommy Rutledge with the Gwinnett County fire department said. Four of the family’s dogs died.
The house was fully engulfed and a vehicle was burning when crews arrived, Rutledge said.
“This home is a total loss,” he said.
The cold weather that has the area in a deep freeze made the firefighters’ jobs more difficult. They were able to rotate, rest, hydrate and get warm in the rehab unit before going back out, Rutledge said.
“It’s extremely cold,” he said. “It takes a challenge for firefighters to get out. It makes them tired. It affects their ability and mobility in this heavy gear. The gear gets wet. But again, our firefighters are doing well. They’re able to rehab and go right back to work.”
The fire is believed to have started in the basement and appears to be accidental, he said. A space heater was being used in the basement at the time, but the cause of the fire has not been determined.
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