A three-story townhome was gutted by fire early Wednesday morning in a Buford neighborhood.
Firefighter Donald Strother with the Gwinnett County Fire Department said firefighters were called to the location on Eagle Tiff Drive around 7:30 a.m.
"The caller to 911 stated that everything was on fire" Strother said in a press statement.
He said smoke alarms alerted the three residents to the fire, but when firefighters arrived flames had already spread quickly from the basement to the first and second floor of the building.
As firefighters were battling the burning townhome, they got word there was an elderly woman with limited mobility in an adjacent townhome.
"After knocks on the door were not responded to, crews forced entry. The elderly patient was attempting to get into a mechanical stair-lift to get down to the first floor," Strother said.
Strother said firefighters had to carry the patient out of the unit. She was assessed for possible smoke inhalation, but declined to be taken to the hospital.
Strother said one of the occupants from the burning building was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but the injuries were considered non-emergency.
Fire investigators were able to the determine the fire was started by a battery charger in the basement, according to Strother.
The American Red Cross is providing assistance to two families.
