Storm Keeps Emergency Crews Busy

Firefighters were kept busy Thursday evening, as they responded to more than 120 calls for service during the height of severe storms that rolled into Gwinnett County. 

Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services activated its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and staffed the Operations War Room at headquarters. An additional engine was also used, and staff from fire inspections and arson helped respond to reports of live wires down.  

There were a total of 123 calls, including two for trees down in Snellville, dispatched between the hours of 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Calls to firefighters:

Live wires down - 45
Possible collapse calls - 1
Residential smoke reports - 2
Business fires - 1 (good intent call)
House fires - 4 (only one actual working fire)
Vehicle fires - 3
Woods fires - 13
Alarms activated - 16
Vehicle accidents - 14
Person down/medical calls - 13 (routine not storm related)
Assist citizen calls - 11

Synopsis of notable storm-related events:

HOUSE FIRE:

Crews responded to a house fire in the 5300 block of Candleberry Drive, SW in Lilburn. The fire was sparked by a lightning strike to the attic that neighbors witnessed. When crews arrived, they found flames from the roof of a two-story home. There were no injuries reported.

TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE:

Firefighters responded to a report of a large tree down on a house in the 3100 block of Periwinkle Drive, SW in Snellville.  Two people were home at the time, and they escaped unharmed. The tree crashed through the roof and caused extensive damage to the attic.

TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE:

Firefighters responded to a report of a large tree down on the roof of a house in the 4300 block of Gaelic Way, SW in Snellville.  Crews found a tree on the roof with damage to the attic. No one was home at the time, and no injuries were reported.

TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE:

Firefighters responded to a report of two trees down on two houses in the 3800 block of Pleasant Hill Road, NW in Duluth.  There were no injuries reported.

TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE:

Firefighters responded to a report of a tree down on a house in the 1000 block of Beaver Ruin Road, NW in Norcross.  Crews found a tree on the roof, however no one was home. No injuries were reported.