2 dead after early morning kitchen fire at Lilburn home, officials say
Lilburn home fire kills two adults after grandmother escapes
Gwinnett County Fire crews responded to a fatal blaze on Village Green Court in Lilburn, where two adults died. Fire officials say the home had no smoke alarms and the fire likely started in the kitchen.
LILBURN, Ga. - Two people are dead after an early morning house fire destroyed a home in Lilburn on Friday, according to Gwinnett County Fire officials.
What we know:
Authorities said that the fire happened in the 300 block of Village Green Court SW around 5:33 a.m.
One person escaped the home and called 911 to report a kitchen fire.
Crews arrived within seven minutes to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof of the split-level house.
"They reported heavy smoke and intense fire blowing out of the residence," said Capt. Ryan McGiboney of the Gwinnett County Fire Department.
Search teams placed ladders at bedroom windows, and that's when they found the bodies of two people in separate upstairs sleeping areas.
Fire investigators determined the blaze was accidental and started in the kitchen. Officials noted there were no working smoke alarms in the home.
What they're saying:
According to Gwinnett County Fire officials, a family lived in the home. A grandmother was able to escape the blaze, but her two adult grandchildren were trapped inside and killed.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the surviving grandmother waiting outside the residence.
Firefighters climb a ladder to an upstairs bedroom window during a fatal house fire on Village Green Court SW in Lilburn early Friday morning. (Credit: Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services)
"She pointed to two bedrooms and said they are inside," McGiboney said. "We go into expedited rescue mode of operation, deploy multiple ladders as well as fire tech lines."
Rescuers worked quickly to reach the victims trapped in the home.
"Entered the house through two windows, one on the front house, one on the back, rapidly searched for the victims and found two adults taken to medical crews standing by," McGiboney said.
Despite the rapid rescue efforts, both victims succumbed to their injuries.
The American Red Cross is assisting the survivors.
What you can do:
In the wake of the tragedy, fire officials emphasized the critical importance of early warning devices in preventing home casualties.
"They are overseers of the night while you sleep," McGiboney said of smoke alarms. "They monitor the area, and they are designed to pick up the smallest trace of smoke, which can be deadly."
McGiboney urged all residents to verify that they have multiple working smoke alarms installed throughout their homes and to seek assistance if needed.
"Call your local fire department," McGiboney said. "If you live in Gwinnett, call us. We will be happy to send someone out. We will not only check it for you, but help you identify something to make your home safer."
What we don't know:
Fire officials have not yet released the identities of the two victims.
The fire remains under investigation.
The Source: Information in this story comes directly from an official press release issued by Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services. This story has been updated since it was originally published.