Three Gwinnett County firefighters suffered heat-related illnesses Tuesday afternoon while battling a house fire in Dacula, with two being briefly hospitalized as a result of their symptoms.
Capt. Tommy Rutledge with Gwinnett County's Department of Fire and Emergency Services said all three individuals are expected to make a full recovery, adding that no other injuries were reported in the fire on Luke Edwards Road near New Hope Road.
Crews were dispatched to the fire at 2:14 p.m., arriving on scene to find a roughly 12,000-square-foot two-story home fully involved with flames.
"The house is situated well off the roadway on Luke Edwards, between Cammie Wages and Edwards Estate," Rutledge explained. "Neighbors gave arriving crews a verbal 'all-clear' and advised that the occupants are out of town. Several dogs were able to be safely removed from the backyard"
Rutledge said firefighters, having deployed attack and supply hose lines, were forced to battle the fire from outside the the home, owing to "the magnitude of the fire and intense flames and heat."
While fighting the fire, Rutledge said three unnamed firefighters began showing symptoms of heat-related illness, an issue that is taken very seriously among fire officials.
"Two firefighters were transported to the hospital for treatment," Rutledge continued. "The third firefighter was evaluated and released at the scene by paramedics."
He added: "The third firefighter went home for the remainder of the shift. All three firefighters are doing OK and are expected to make a full recovery."
The home was deemed a total loss as a result of the fire, and Rutledge said investigators have been notified of the situation in order to determine the fire's cause.
