One adult was found dead Thursday following a house fire in Snellville on the 3700 block of Eli Drive.
A Gwinnett County Police Officer reported the house fire and dispatch alerted firefighters at approximately 10:55 p.m. The officer said the roof of the home was beginning to cave in at the time of his report. He attempted to make contact with any residents inside, but intense heat forced him back, according to a release from Gwinnett County.
Fire crews arrived at 11 p.m. and began extinguishing the one-story fire. Heavy flames and smoke were venting from the windows of the home, prompting responders to deploy multiple attack hoses.
Crews brought the blaze under control at 11:34 p.m. after battling with arcing power lines and dangerous floor integrity due to fire damage. A search of the home revealed the remains of one adult. Details regarding the victim’s name, sex and ultimate cause of death are being withheld by officials due to federal privacy laws.
The victim’s body was reportedly turned over to the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.
Gwinnett County officials remind the community of the importance of practicing home fire safety by developing a fire escape plan, practicing fire drills and installing smoke alarms. Officials ask anyone with questions about fire safety to contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at (678) 518-4845 or email [email protected].
