Crime & Safety
Roof Collapse Forces Firefighters Out While Fighting House Fire
Smoke alarm alerted sleeping family to fire, according to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services.
Three people were displaced after a house fire in Lawrenceville early Saturday morning, according to the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services.
At 3:45 a.m., crews responded to the home in the 700 block of Berryman Place SW. Heavy fire was already showing from the attic of the large two-story home, according to a release.
Firefighters initially entered the home to fight the blaze, but had to pull out and fight the fire from the yard after the roof began to collapse.
The three residents, two adults and a teenager, were home asleep, but alerted to the fire due to a smoke alarm. The family reportedly then discovered thick smoke in the garage and they were safely in the yard when fire crews arrived.
"This fire is a prime example of how important home smoke alarms really are," said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge.
The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is under investigation by the fire department.
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