Gwinnett Firefighters Battle Bitter Cold in Overnight House Fire

Firefighters met bitter cold temperatures and gusty winds while battling an early morning house fire in north Gwinnett County.

Crews found a vacant house engulfed in flames around 12:45 a.m. Monday in the 1700 block of Flowery Branch Road. This is an area north of Dacula in unincorporated Auburn.

“First-due units advised that the entire roof had already collapsed and firefighters were operating in the ‘defensive mode’ to control the blaze,” Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in an emailed news release. “Defensive mode means that firefighters are forced to battle the blaze from outside the structure due to the magnitude of the fire and hazardous collapse conditions.”

The house was a total loss. The owner told firefighters the home has been vacant for a number of years. The cause is under investigation.

Rutledge said firefighters rotated through a rehab area at the scene, where they were able to hydrate, rest and stay warm before going back to work.

(Photo: Gwinnett Fire PIO)