GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A house fire just outside the city of Snellville left one person dead and claimed the lives of three pets on Tuesday evening.
What we know:
Firefighters were dispatched to the 4200 block of Round Stone Trail SW at 7:35 p.m. after several 911 calls reported that a home was engulfed in flames and that someone was possibly trapped inside. Crews arrived just three minutes later to find a heavy fire at the rear of a single-family, split-level home.
Witnesses at the scene continued to report that a person remained inside the burning structure. Firefighters quickly launched an aggressive attack on the flames while simultaneously attempting to search for victims. However, their rescue efforts were briefly halted when the roof collapsed as they tried to access the second floor through a window. Crews were forced to retreat until the structure could be safely re-entered.
Once the fire was under control—shortly after 7:49 p.m.—firefighters resumed their search and located an adult victim inside the home. The individual was quickly pulled from the house and transported in critical condition to Piedmont Eastside Medical Center. The victim, whose name has not been released, later died.
In addition, firefighters discovered three dogs that died in the fire. A cat suffering from smoke inhalation was given oxygen using a pet mask and later transferred to Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement for further veterinary treatment.
What we don't know:
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and has not yet been determined.