A family of five is homeless after heavy fire ripped through the house they were renting in Gwinnett County.
The blaze sent part of the second floor of the home collapsing into the garage Thursday and damaged a car in the driveway, a fire official said.
Firefighters responded about 8:50 p.m. to the 1500 block of Hillary Cove Court and found heavy fire in the garage and flames shooting through the roof of the two-story, wood-frame house, Gwinnett fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.
“Firefighters quickly deployed fire attack hose lines to control the blaze,” Rutledge said.
They were able to prevent it from spreading to a neighboring home. However, heat melted the vinyl siding of the residence.
The fire apparently started in the garage and quickly spread to the second floor and attic via the wall and floor system, a fire investigator told Rutledge.
It was unclear what caused the fire or if the property owner had been contacted.
The American Red Cross was called to the scene to help the displaced family, who was home at the time of the blaze.
“They tried to douse the flames with water and a portable fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful,” Rutledge said. “The occupants escaped unharmed and were outside —safe — when fire trucks and police arrived.”
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