Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services responded at 12:50 PM on Saturday, March 12, 2005, to a reported house on fire at 940 Lakebend Drive in Lawrenceville.
On arrival, firefighters found one house with heavy fire involvement with fire quickly spreading to a neighboring house. First arriving firefighters were hampered by low water pressure on two hydrants close to the fire buildings. Additional resources were requested as fire continued to spread and consumed a third house. The fire spread quickly due to several factors; dry vegetation, high winds radiant heat and flying embers.
Firefighters worked to overcome the low water pressure and began to protect multiple exposures on each side and directly behind the fire buildings. The fire caused minor damage to the exterior wall of on one house and completely destroyed three other houses before being controlled by approximately 40 firefighters operating 15 pieces of equipment.
The fire originated in the grass behind 940 Lakebend Drive. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation.
All four houses were occupied and families were home in three of the houses when the fire broke out. The residents were able to escape with no injuries. The Red Cross was requested to assist residents who were displaced.
Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours cooling hotspots.
Firefighters did a great job of keeping this fire from spreading to several other houses that were in immediate danger.
