For almost 12 hours from New Year's Eve night to New Year's Day morning, Gwinnett County firefighters kept busy responding to a host of fires blamed on improper use of fireworks.
Capt. Tommy Rutledge with the Gwinnett County Fire Department said fire crews began responding to the calls starting around 8 p.m. Thursday night and finished the last call around 7 a.m. Friday.
"[That] does not include all calls for the time period," Rutledge said in a press statement, noting that firefighters answered calls all across the county.
Rutledge said no one was injured in any of the incidents. He provided a synopsis of the holiday activities:
- VEHICLE FIRE: Firefighters responded on 12/31/2020 at 9:38 p.m. to a vehicle fire on Park Colony Drive in Norcross. Crews found a small fire out on arrival in a work van. The fire caused minor damage to a small area of carpeting inside the van. The complainant stated that a fireworks device went off inside the vehicle.
- DUMPSTER FIRE: Firefighters responded on 12/31/2020 at 11:14 p.m. to a dumpster fire on Bella View Lane in Snellville. Crews found a fire in a residential construction dumpster in the cul-de-sac.
- WOODS FIRE: Firefighters responded on 12/31/2020 at 11:17 p.m. to a woods fire on Summer Pond Trail in Lawrenceville. The caller reported a fireworks package on fire next to the bushes and a utility pole. Crews extinguished a small fire on arrival. There were fireworks debris scattered in the area.
- DUMPSTER FIRE: Firefighters responded on 12/31/2020 at 11:31 p.m. to a dumpster fire on Sunrise Village Lane in Norcross. Crews found the dumpster on fire near the leasing office.
- WOODS FIRE: Firefighters responded on 01/01/2021 at 12:41 a.m. to a woods/grass fire on Collins View Court in Lawrenceville. The caller stated that something landed in the neighbor’s yard and started a fire. There was no active fire found on arrival.
- VEHICLE FIRE: Firefighters responded on 01/01/2021 at 1:32 a.m. to a vehicle fire on Poplar Drive in Lawrenceville. Crews found two cars on fire in front of the house. Georgia Power was requested due to close proximity to overhead power lines and a damaged utility pole.
- DUMPSTER FIRE Firefighters responded on 01/01/2021 at 2:15 a.m. to a dumpster fire on Treehouse Parkway in Norcross. Crews found an active fire in the dumpster.
- WOODS FIRE: Firefighters responded on 01/01/2021 at 2:19 a.m. to a woods fire on Pleasant Hill Road in Lilburn. The crew was cancelled in quarters based on the fire being extinguished by a bystander.
- HOUSE FIRE: Multiple units responded on 01/01/2021 at 2:39 a.m. to a working residential fire on Kittery Point in Snellville. Crews found flames on the exterior of a two-story house. The fire caused extensive damage to the wall and residual smoke and water damage on the interior. The fire was caused by spent fireworks that were discarded in a trash can against the house.
- MOBILE HOME FIRE: Multiple units responded on 01/01/2021 at 5:09 a.m. to a working residential fire on Meadowlark Place in Lawrenceville. The fire was caused by a fireworks mortar and caused extensive damage to a vacant mobile home.
