A house fire in Norcross, Gwinnett County, has left two people hospitalized last Saturday morning after a cigarette reportedly started the blaze. Gwinnett County fire officials have stated that a woman called 911 around 6 a.m. to report that her house on Riva Ridge Drive was engulfed in flames and her father was trapped inside. According to FOX5 Atlanta, firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and found the woman outside of the burning structure.
Upon entry, they encountered bars on one side of the house which complicated rescue efforts, so they entered through the front. They discovered an elderly man unresponsive near a window. Describing the incident, officials relayed that the man, assumed to be the woman’s father, was carried out at 6:11 a.m. and taken to a local hospital. The daughter was also hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries, as noted by Atlanta News First. The causal cigarette has been deemed the source of the accidental fire, which spread quickly to the attic of the home.
In the wake of the tragedy, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services urge residents to adopt rigorous home fire safety practices. They highlighted the importance of having a well-thought-out escape plan in case of emergencies. Furthermore, the department recommends that doors and windows equipped with security bars should have quick-release devices to facilitate swift exits during such perilous situations…