Gwinnett fire officials say a family is unharmed after escaping a house fire in the Auburn area late Sunday night.
The home was on Tupelo Trail and Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services said it was first reported just after 11:00 p.m. When crews arrived, the home's garage was fully involved in flames and the blaze was quickly spreading.
According to Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services, a resident of the home said he was upstairs when a smoke alarm alerted him to the fire. He checked the basement of the home, then the garage where he spotted the fire coming from the back-left corner. He attempted to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, but was unsuccessful. Another attempt to put out the fire with a garden hose was also unsuccessful.
Crews were able to extinguish the fire and the two adults and four children inside escaped. The home suffered heavy damage on the main floor and water damage in the basement. Two vehicles were completely destroyed and another vehicle that was parked in the driveway sustained moderate damage.
Fire officials also said the family's two pet lizards who were inside at the time are not believed to have survived the fire. All six residents have been displaced and chose to deny assistance from the American Red Cross.
The fire is believed to have started in the back-left corner of the garage, but the cause has yet to be determined.
