Storms Keep Gwinnett Firefighters Busy

A line of thunderstorms that moved through Gwinnett Wednesday evening resulted in numerous calls to the emergency center.

Between 4:40 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services (GCFES) crews responded to 57 incidents according to GCFES public information officer Lt. Colin S. Rhoden.

“With the high volume activity and extreme weather conditions, the residents of Gwinnett County were protected both efficiently and effectively,” Rhoden wrote in an email to media outlets.  “No injuries were reported at any of the incidents and significant damage was avoided at all but one.”

Firefighters responded to several major incidents during the July 18 storms. In Duluth, falling trees damaged two homes. Fire crews also dealt with two fires caused by lightning strikes -- one in the 2500 block of Amberbrook Lane in Grayson and the other in the 4600 block of Fairway View Court in Duluth. A third fire at the Water Vistas Apartments in Lawrenceville was quickly extinguished and caused only minor damage. No one was injured in any of the incidents.

In addition, fire crews responded to six reports of downed wires, two reports of smoke odor in a residences, one storage building fire, 17 fire alarm activation calls, one call to assist a citizen with a water problem and eight motor vehicle collisions.

The incidents were broken down into several categories including:

•             6 reports of wires down

•             2 reports of smoke odor in residence

•             1 apartment fire

•             2 house fires

•             1 out-building (storage building) fire

•             17 Fire Alarm activation calls

•             2 trees fallen on houses

•             1 assist citizen call (Water Problem)

•             8 Motor Vehicle Collisions