A Gwinnett County man who jumped from an apartment to escape a fire was detained by police Saturday night.
The man was one of a group of people trapped on the second floor fire broke out about 9:45 p.m. at the Cherokee Court Apartments on Stone Mountain Street, Gwinnett County fire spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.
A group of people were signaling for help from a second-story window as firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of a first-floor unit.
The man, who has not been named, jumped as firefighters were getting a ladder into place for rescue. He was detained by Lawrenceville police “for acting belligerent at the scene,” Rutledge said.
Three adults and three children were rescued by firefighters with a ladder.
“All were evaluated by paramedics for possible smoke inhalation,” Rutledge said. “The three children were transported to the hospital for further observation.”
None of the injuries were described as life-threatening.
The fire appears accidental, Rutledge said, and originated from the kitchen of a first-floor apartment.
“The occupant in the unit where the fire started was cooking and told the fire investigator that the grease ignited on the stove,” Rutledge said. “He attempted to douse the fire with water, but the flames spread out of control.”
The blaze caused heavy fire damage to one apartment unit and extensive smoke and water damage from firefighting efforts in three adjoining units.
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