Family Displaced By Buford House Fire

BUFORD, GA – Five people were displaced by a residential fire Thursday morning in the 4300 block of Sardis Church Road in unincorporated Buford. Firefighters arrived on the scene and found a single-story wood-frame house with heavy fire in the attic.

Crews quickly deployed attack hose lines to combat the blaze and initially made an interior fire attack. With the intense blaze, firefighters were forced to transition to a defensive fire attack. Multiple hose lines and one aerial apparatus were operated to bring the fire under control. The bulk of the fire was knocked down and crews were able to make entry to complete extinguishment. The fire caused extensive damage to the attic of the home. Smoke, heat and water caused moderate damage to the rest of the home. No injuries were reported during the incident.

A fire investigator was requested to respond to the scene to assist with origin and cause determination. Preliminary investigation indicates the fire started in the wall and extended to the attic space. The exact cause is still undetermined and under active investigation.

Homeowners said they were alerted by smoke alarms. Occupants found fire in the wall and attic before exiting the structure.

Firefighters encourage all citizens to practice home fire safety, especially during the winter season. Be sure to install working smoke alarms on every level of the home and in each bedroom. Develop a home escape plan and practice fire drills regularly. Check and maintain home heating appliances such as the furnace, fireplace and space heater.

Equipment at the scene included: three engines, one truck, one squad, one air/light unit, one medic unit, one rehab unit, two battalion chiefs and one arson investigator.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Fire