Buford Home Destroyed in Overnight Fire

BUFORD, GA -- Heavy winds overnight contributed to a fire that destroyed a home in Buford, officials said.

Gwinnett County firefighters responded to a call at 4:20 a.m. to a house fire on the 4100 block of Chatham Crest Lane, NE in Buford.

They arrived to find heavy flames already showing from the back of a two-story wood frame house.

The residents -- a man, a woman and their small dog -- were already outside and safe.

According to a news release, wind had caused the fire to spread quickly. Firefighters were forced to battle the blaze from outside because of heavy fire and a partially collapsed roof, the release said.

Investigators say the blaze appears to have begun in the area of a back deck on the home and appears accidental. The residents were asleep at the time of the blaze and woke up after hearing loud popping sounds.

Fire officials say the home is a total loss. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the family with temporary lodging.