12 Families Displaced, 1 Injured In Norcross Apartment Fire

NORCROSS, GA — Twelve families are displaced, and two pets are reunited with their owners, following a Tuesday morning apartment fire in the 3600 block of Park Colony Drive, Gwinnett fire officials said.

Fire crews responded around 10:15 a.m. to the Terra at Norcross Apartments, where they received reports of smoke coming from a water heater closet.

Flames were seen coming out of the second floor and the attic of the two-story apartment building, fire officials said.

The building had been evacuated, but search crews found two pets inside and returned them to their owners, fire officials said.

A man was injured in the fire but was treated and release on the scene, fire officials said. There were no other injuries.

The fire was detected after the plumbing staff noticed smoke coming from the water heater closet and proceeded to pull the smoke alarm to alert residents, fire officials said.

Apartment management is assisting the displaced families, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"This incident serves as a good reminder of how important it is to learn the sounds of fire safety such as fire alarms. Families are encouraged to practice exit drills in their homes and develop a fire escape plan," fire officials said in a news release.