Duluth Escapes Brunt of Tuesday's Thunderstorm

Duluth apparently escaped the brunt of a thunderstorm that sparked several house and business fires throughout Gwinnett County Tuesday (July 5) evening. Gwinnett firefighters were kept busy responding to a host of weather-related incidents during the storm, according to Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge.

A powerful line of thunderstorms moved through portions of the county between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Gwinnett County was placed under a severe thunderstorm warning as storms packing intense cloud to ground lightning, wind, heavy rain, and thunder pushed through the area.

According to emergency dispatchers, there were 390 calls per hour coming into the 911 Center at the height of the storm, Rutledge said. Callers reported live wires down, fires, alarm calls, and vehicle accidents.

The following is a brief synopsis:

HOUSE FIRES:

• Firefighters responded at 7:31 p.m. to a report of a house fire in the 3500 block of Flat Run Drive SE in Bethlehem. The caller reported smelling smoke in the attic from a lightning strike. Fire crews found visible damage to the roof, but no signs of smoke or fire on arrival.
• Firefighters responded at 8:05 p.m. to a report of a house fire in the 2600 block of Dawning Day Drive in Dacula. The caller reported smoke inside the house from a lightning strike. Crews found an electrical odor inside the house, but no flames on arrival. 
• Firefighters responded at 8:57 p.m. to a report of a house fire in the 2400 block of Ashbourne Drive NE in Lawrenceville. The caller reported a possible lightning strike to the neighbors house. Crews found evidence of a lightning strike nearby, but no damage to the structure.
• Firefighters responded at 9:07 p.m. to a report of a house fire in the 1200 block of Della Way NW in Lawrenceville. The caller reported a possible lightning strike. Crews found a tree on fire close to the residence on arrival.  Firefighters checked the structure for damage.
• Firefighters responded at 9:11 p.m. to a report of a lightning strike and house fire in the 2700 block of Blakely Drive NE in Suwanee. The caller reported smelling smoke inside the townhome and the alarms going off. Crews found light smoke from a clothes dryer due to lightning.
• Firefighters responded at 9:25 p.m. to a report of a lightning strike and house fire in the 2400 block of Legacy Maple Drive NE in Braselton.  Neighbors called 911 to report smoke and flames coming from the attic of a large two-story house with a full basement. Crews found heavy fire showing from the second floor and attic on arrival. The blaze caused heavy damage to the structure. No one was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. Units from Gwinnett County and Hall County responded to the scene.
• Firefighters responded at 9:45 p.m. to a report of a lightning strike and house fire in the 500 block of Rosedown Way NE in Lawrenceville. The caller reported a haze of smoke inside the house.

BUSINESS FIRES:

• Firefighters responded at 8:53 p.m. to a report of a business fire at the Lifetime Fitness at 1823 North Brown Road NW in Lawrenceville. Staff from the center called 911 to report a lightning strike and smell of smoke in the pool area. Crews found six tripped electrical breakers and a slight smoke odor on arrival. Power was also out to the building. The center was open at the time, but no injuries were reported.
• Firefighters responded at 9:14 p.m. to a report of report of a business fire at the Gwinnett County Police Department North Precinct at 2735 Mall of Georgia Blvd. in Buford. Officers reported an apparent lightning strike and smoke inside the building. Crews found active smoke inside the building and a sprinkler head activated on arrival. Minor damage was reported.

TRAUMATIC INJURY: 

• Firefighters responded at 9:28 p.m. to a report of a person that was possibly injured due to lightning at a private residence in the 2800 block of Cove Crossing Drive in Lawrenceville. A teenage girl was reportedly standing in the doorway when lightning struck nearby. She fell and sustained minor injuries. The girl was transported to the hospital (non-emergency) for evaluation.  

OTHER:

• In addition the incidents listed above, firefighters also responded to other calls, including wires down in the roadway, woods fires (caused by lightning or downed electrical lines), alarms activated and vehicle accidents. 

Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services implemented its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to handle storm-related incidents.