Firefighters are giving the credit to the family pets for alerting a Lawrenceville family to a fire in their home.
According to Justin Wilson with the Gwinnett County Fire Department, firefighters were called to the home on Appian Way at 3:40 a.m Sunday, Aug. 26. A caller told 911 operators the side of the house was on fire.
"Fire crews arrived on scene to find a two-story residence with heavy smoke billowing from the front of the home," Wilson said. "All occupants had evacuated prior to arrival and were safely outside."
Wilson said the family of six was asleep when the fire started and they were alerted by their two dogs barking.
"Shortly after being alerted by the dogs, the smoke alarms activated in the home," Wilson said.
Wilson said the home sustained heavy fire damage to a converted living space, second floor and attic, while the rest of the house sustained moderate smoke, heat and water damage.
At this point, investigators have not pinpointed an exact cause of the fire, but they said it appeared the fire started on the outside front right corner of the house near a trash can.
Two adults, four children and two dogs lived in the house.
