Gwinnett firefighters battle fire -- and ice

Gwinnett firefighters had to fight more than a house fire in Lawrenceville early Sunday.

They also had to take on the bitter cold and the ice formed by the water from their hoses.

The fire broke out in the 2100 block of Versailles Place in Lawrenceville around 3 a.m., Gwinnett County fire Captain Tommy Rutledge said.

The occupants of the home, a husband and wife, were alerted by the fire alarm system and escaped unharmed, Rutledge said.

The blaze started from the fireplace and extended to the walls and attic, he said.

Ice formed on the roadway due to water from the fire hoses, and crews rotated during the long firefight to take breaks and stay warm, Rutledge said.