A 10-unit building at a Duluth apartment complex was destroyed by fire Monday night, sending two people to the hospital and displacing more than two dozen residents.
After 911 received a number of phone calls, the Gwinnett County Fire Department (GCFD) was dispatched at 8:38 p.m. to the Landmark at Bella Vista Apartments t 4015 Satellite Boulevard NW in unincorporated Duluth.
"Personnel reported seeing a dark column of smoke while driving to the scene," said GCFD spokesman Donald Strother in a press statement. "Upon their arrival at the multi-family dwelling, crews found flames and smoke aggressively pushing out of the backside of the building. Parts of the structure had already started to collapse."
Strother said firefighters tried to enter the building to search for possible victims, but fire conditions would not allow them to go inside.
"Significant heat from the blaze pushed fire personnel back outside of the apartment building," Strother said. "Once the blaze was brought under control, search teams checked the building for victims. No victims were found and the property manager was able to confirm that all residents had been accounted for."
Strother said two residents were taken to the hospital with what he described as non-life threatening injuries. A third person was assessed at the scene but was not transported to the hospital.
Strother said the American Red Cross was called to assist 23 adults and six children, who were displaced as a result of the fire.
Right now, investigators are trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
