5 Reported Dead in Duluth House Fire

UPDATED, 3 p.m. DULUTH, GA — Five people have been confirmed dead in a Sunday morning house fire in Duluth. Fire and police investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze in the 2200 block of Post Oak Drive NW, according to a statement by Gwinnett County Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters responded at 3:30 a.m. Sunday after neighbors saw smoke and flames coming from the house, which was already engulfed when fire units arrived.

Firefighters began battling the blaze from the outside because the fire was too intense to enter the home.

Upon making entry, firefighter’s located three victims deceased during a primary search, but were unable to complete a search due to the magnitude of the damage and a partial collapse of the home.

Neighbors had suggested as many as five people could have been in the home, and two more bodies were found later in the morning after a technical crew was brought in to stabilize a portion of the home, fire officials said. In addition to the five victims, a dog and cat were also killed in the fire. The victims are two adult males and three adult females.

The exact cause and origin of the fire and the manner of death are currently undetermined and under active investigation. The blaze is said to have originated in the area of the back deck. Investigators are unable to rule out a fire pit that was located on the deck as a potential cause.

A neighbor said that occupants of the home were using the fire pit late last night. The investigation is ongoing.

“It is a common practice to involve multiple agencies during these types of investigations, based on the magnitude of the fire and the fact that multiple fatalities are involved,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge.

The identities of the deceased victims will not be available for release until the Medical Examiner’s Office conducts a positive identification of the bodies and all the next of kin are notified.

Photos provided by Gwinnett County Fire and Rescue.