One woman was killed Saturday morning when a fire broke inside her Norcross-area apartment, officials said.
Crews responded to the JSD Apartments near Jimmy Carter Boulevard about 7 a.m. and found heavy flames coming from the first and second floors of one building, Gwinnett County fire spokesman Tommy Rutledge said.
Investigators said two women were inside their first-story unit when the fire began. One of the women was able to escape the blaze, but a second was killed after being trapped inside.
“Firefighters were made aware of a person trapped inside and made immediate entry to begin rescue efforts,” Rutledge said in an email. The woman’s body was later discovered in the back bedroom of the home.
Authorities said both women were asleep when the fire began. The woman who got out said she woke up after hearing the smoke alarm and realized her apartment was filling with smoke.
“She went to the back bedroom to alert the second female and both headed toward the hallway,” Rutledge said. “The second female went back in the bedroom and did not make it out.”
The fire, which damaged surrounding units, was brought under control about 7:40 a.m. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials believe the blaze started in the front bedroom of the apartment and appears to be accidental. Authorities have not released the name of the woman killed.
According to the American Red Cross, the early morning fire displaced 12 families, an estimated 35 residents. Volunteers are temporarily assisting those who lost their homes with lodging, food, clothes and personal items.
Rutledge called the deadly blaze tragic and said it highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms and getting out quickly if there’s a fire.
“Get out fast when you hear the smoke alarm sounding and never go back inside a burning house or apartment,” he said. “If you encounter smoke and heat inside, crawl low to the floor and go to the nearest exit.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
About the Author
