8 rescued from Gwinnett apartment fire, 26 apartments impacted

Several residents rescued from Gwinnett apartment fire

An overnight fire at an apartment complex in Gwinnett County displaced dozens of families but caused no serious injuries, according to fire officials. Several people had to be rescued from the fire. Brittney Edney reporting. 

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - An overnight fire at an apartment complex in Gwinnett County displaced dozens of families but caused no serious injuries, according to fire officials.

What we know:

The fire broke out just before midnight at the Cortland Apartments off Herrington Road. Crews with Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services arrived to find heavy smoke and fire conditions, with residents trapped on upper floors.

Firefighters rescued eight people from the building. Three residents were evaluated by medical crews at the scene and released, and no life-threatening injuries were reported. No firefighters were hurt during the rescues.

Officials said 26 apartment units were impacted by the fire. 

Capt. Ryan McGiboney with Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services said crews immediately shifted into rescue mode upon arrival.

"There was obvious smoke, fire conditions as well, as well as people that were trapped on upper floors," McGiboney said. "Our crews went into rescue mode, we were able to make eight rescues. Out of those eight rescues, three people were checked by medical crews and released. No life-threatening injuries sustained, thank goodness."

What's next:

The Red Cross and Gwinnett County Emergency Management are assisting displaced residents with temporary housing and other needs. The cause of the fire and where it originated remain under investigation.

What they're saying:

Neighbors like Kenny Barber woke up Tuesday morning to find severe damage to the building's roof.
 
"I really felt bad for my neighbors," Barber said. "A little after eight, I could still smell the wood. We drove over, and I see it was building 1700. The fireman was still there, blazing with the water."
 
The American Red Cross said volunteers with the disaster action team helped 22 people, which equated to nine families.
 
"As you can imagine, the shock after a fire, those disaster action team members are there to say, 'Hey, let's call the insurance company. Here are some recovery planning that's going on,'" said Suzanne Lawler, a regional communications manager with the American Red Cross.
 
"They provided immediate assistance, comfort kits, and recovery planning," Lawler continued. "Sometimes, those can be things that you don't even think about. The Red Cross is helping out with things like eyeglasses, medication, CPAP machines, and really providing hope, comfort, and care to folks who are going through such a tough time."
 
A man who lives in the apartment building that caught fire spoke off-camera with a FOX 5 crew. He said he attempted to return to his unit on Tuesday afternoon but was not allowed.