Gwinnett Apartment Fire on 3rd-Floor Balcony Damages 21 Units

A fire that started on a third-floor balcony damaged 21 units at a Gwinnett County apartment complex near Gwinnett Place Mall Friday afternoon.

Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said eight of the units — all on the top floor — sustained heavy damage at the Atrium at Sweetwater Apartments on Sweetwater Road. Thirteen units on the lower level were damaged by smoke and water.

This is in an unincorporated area of Lawrenceville, just south of I-85 near Pleasant Hill Road.

An undetermined number of residents were displaced, Rutledge said. There were no injuries reported and several dogs and cats were removed, all apparently in good condition.

The fire started shortly before 4 p.m.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the third floor, with flames shooting through the roof. Rutledge said a maintenance worker tried unsuccessfully to douse the fire with a portable fire extinguisher.

“Crews flowed water from multiple hose lines and two aerial ladder trucks to bring the blaze under control,” Rutledge said. “Firefighters held the fire at the second breezeway and kept it from extending further.”

The fire appears to have been accidental, but the cause was not immediately determined.

The Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to those displaced.

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(Photos: Gwinnett Fire PIO)