A fire last night at the Las Palmas Apartments in Gwinnett County forced dozens to flee into the cold, as flames engulfed a three-story building, causing major damage and displacing approximately 30 residents. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, firefighters received emergency calls around 10:03 p.m., and upon arrival, they encountered heavy smoke and fire billowing from the structure. They were able successfully to bring the blaze under control by 10:31 p.m.
The fire, which was largely contained to six apartment units, resulted in four being completely destroyed, while two suffered significant damage. While the exact cause remains under investigation, the Gwinnett County Fire Department stated that none of the affected apartments had working smoke alarms — a possibly critical factor on a night when temperatures plunged to near record lows. As reported by Atlanta News First, the fire is believed to have started in the back of a second-story unit after a resident heard a "pop" sound and subsequently alerted others, enabling everyone to safely evacuate the premises.
While there were no physical injuries reported, the emotional and logistic upheaval for those affected cannot be understated. Capt. Ryan McGiboney of the Gwinnett Fire Department emphasized the rapid evacuation efforts, telling Atlanta News First, "Make sure that the entire building was evacuated and they searched for victims. Fortunately, we found out that everybody made it out safely."
The affected building has been evacuated completely, with power and gas utilities shut down for safety reasons. This has left all residents of the 24-unit complex suddenly without homes, as the search for temporary shelter and basics becomes critical in the freezing weather. The American Red Cross has stepped in to provide assistance to the displaced on what Capt. McGiboney described to Atlanta News First as a "very cold evening." Fire officials are set to fully to return to the scene to investigate the origins of the blaze in the coming days.
