Lightning Causes Lawrenceville Condo Fire, Residents Displaced

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — Firefighters rescued two dogs from a condominium fire due to a lightning strike in the 200 block of Mateo Walk, SW in Lawrenceville Wednesday. The dogs were not injured and were returned to their owner. A Firefighter sustained an ankle injury while operating on the interior of the building. He is doing ok and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment, according to the Lawrenceville Fire Department.

Firefighters responded at 6:03 p.m., to an occupant report of a condominium fire after a caller to 911 reported flames. The occupants in the end unit on the right reported a flash of lightning followed by a loud boom. They noticed that the electrical outlets were blown and discovered the side of the building in flames.

Crews arrived to find a working fire in the second floor and attic of a two-story, wood-frame condo building. The occupants were already outside-safe when fire trucks arrived and no injuries were reported. Firefighters quickly deployed fire attack hose lines and made immediate entry to combat the blaze and conduct a primary search. Two dogs were removed from the fire unit as crews extinguished the fire and checked for extension.

(For more news like this, sign up for Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Lawrenceville — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.)

The fire caused extensive damage to two units and sent residual smoke inside a third adjoining unit. The Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to displaced occupants.

Equipment on the scene included: two engines, two ladder trucks, one squad, two medic units and one battalion chief.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett Fire Department