According to a media release from Gwinnett County Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge, crews were dispatched to the Silverwood Court home near Old Fountain Road around 3:30 in response to a 9-1-1 call that indicated the home's basement was on fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered heavy smoke pouring from a large one-story residence; crews quickly deployed attack hose lines and made entry, finding flames throughout the home, including the basement.
Rutledge said a partial floor collapse, combined with the intense fire conditions, forced firefighters to retreat outside the home, where they continued to knock back the flames. They re-entered the residence a short time later to complete the extinguishment.
The home was eventually determined to be a total loss; however, the occupants, who were doing yard work when the fire began, declined assistance from the Red Cross.
Rutledge said the exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but a preliminary investigation revealed it may have originated in the area of the basement ceiling.
The investigation, led by the Gwinnett County Fire Department, is still underway.
Photo courtesy of Capt. Tommy Rutledge
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/3/286574