A family dog lost their life in an early evening fire that happened at a home in Sugar Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Firefighters were dispatched to a home in the 5000 block of Hidden Branch Drive after an occupant of the home called 9-1-1 to report that their kitchen was on fire.
According to the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, upon arrival fire crews found a single-story home on a basement “well-involved” in flames. Firefighters jumped into action deploying two fire attack hose lines to the front porch. They worked on knocking down the flames and once the bulk of the fire had been extinguished, firefighters began an interior attack to extinguish the remainder of the fire.
Additional fire crews searched the home for any victims and they came across a deceased dog while conducting their search. An adult male was at home at the time of the fire but made it out safely with two other dogs.
The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes. The home suffered extensive fire damage according to the fire department.
The adult male told fire crews that he had been sleeping in his room when he heard popping sounds which prompted him to search for the cause of the noise. He found smoke in the hallway, grabbed two of his dogs and evacuated the home. There were smoke alarms in the home but the male said that they did not alert him.
With the exception of the one deceased dog, no other injuries were reported. Two adults and two dogs were displaced due to the fire. The American Red Cross was called in to provide them with temporary assistance.
Fire investigators responded to the scene and determined that the origin of the fire came the stovetop in the kitchen. The fire was ruled accidental.
Units responding to the scene included four engines, one ladder truck, one squad, one medic unit, two battalion chiefs, two fire investigators and a PIO.
Firefighters would like to remind residents that October is Fire Prevention Month in Gwinnett County. Help prevent kitchen fires by following these safety tips:
- Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking
- Keep children and flammable items away from the stovetop, including oven mitts, potholders, food packaging, and dishtowels
- Most cooking fires start when someone is frying food. Be sure to keep an eye on the food while you are frying
For additional information on home fire safety, please contact the Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services’ Community Risk Reduction Division at 678-518-4845 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.
FEATURED PHOTO: A dog perished in an early afternoon house fire in Sugar Hill on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services.
