Buford-area fire destroys home, displaces five

Although no injuries were reported, five people were displaced late Thursday afternoon after a Gwinnett County fire destroyed their residence.
 
Firefighters were called to Buford-area scene on Shelby Lynn Court near Highway 20, where they discovered a flames engulfing the roof of a single-story home. Gwinnett County Fire Cpt. Tommy Rutledge said the fire was first reported by a neighbor who saw fire and smoke emanating from the home's garage.
 
Rutledge said the severe nature of the fire posed an obvious threat to neighboring homes.
 
"Crews were immediately met by an intense wind-driven fire and radiant heat threatening two neighboring houses," he explained. "Firefighters trained their attack hoses on the neighboring homes to block the fire spread and flowed water on the original house from a ladder truck to bring the flames under control."
 
The residence where the fire broke out was determined to be a total loss. A vehicle parked in the driveway of the home was also damaged.
 
According to Rutledge, the efforts made by firefighters to prevent the fire from spreading proved successful.
 
"The two exposure houses sustained moderate damage to the exterior siding, but no damage on the inside."
 
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, which Rutledge said was fortunate.

"There was a man and a baby home at the time the fire erupted, and both escaped unharmed," he said. "The two were awakened from a nap by a loud popping sound and discovered the garage ablaze."
 
Four adults and an infant were displaced by the fire, and are now being assisted by the Red Cross. Rutledge said the occupants of the neighboring homes were not displaced by the fire.
 
A preliminary investigation revealed that the fire started in a corner of the home's garage; Rutledge noted that investigators are currently "unable to rule out cigarette-smoking materials as a potential cause."