Saturday Evening Thunderstorm Causes Damage

A thunderstorm that moved through Gwinnett County early Saturday (June 18) evening kept firefighters and emergency crews busy responding to reports of fallen trees on houses and roadways, house fires caused by lightning strikes, and downed electrical wires.

Here’s a report on storm-related incidents provided at 6:42 p.m. and updated at 9:15 p.m. by Capt. Tommy Rutledge, spokesman for Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services:

TREES DOWN ON HOUSE:

• 3200 block of Cardinal Lake Drive NW in Duluth. Caller reported a tree down on the house and a vehicle. Damage to the structure. No injuries reported 
• 100 block of Timber Oak Cove NE in Lawrenceville. Tree on house but reportedly did not penetrate the roof. No injury.
• 2300 block of His Way NW in Lawrenceville. No injuries reported.

HOUSE FIRES:

• 2500 block of Cobble Creek Lane SW in Grayson. Heavy smoke from the roof of a two-story house on arrival. Everyone out of the house on arrival.  No injuries reported. This came in as a lightning strike per occupants. The fire is out at this time. Damage to the attic.
• 1600 block of Norton Estates Circle in Snellville. Report of smoke alarms going off.  Minor fire damage due to lightning strike to back of the house.  No injuries reported.This is not a working fire.
• 6200 block of Stewart Ridge Walk NE in Buford. Smell of electrical odor from a possible lightning strike. Nothing showing on arrival. This is not a working fire.

WIRES DOWN: 

• There are several reports of electrical wires down that were checked by fire crews. Most were unfounded or were good intent calls.

TREES DOWN IN ROADWAY:

• East Shadburn Ferry Road in Buford. Report of two trees across the roadway.
• 3900 block of South Bogan Road in Buford.  Two trees across the roadway.
• South Berkeley Lake Road in Duluth. Tree down partially blocking roadway.
• Highpoint Road SW near Highway 78 in Snellville.

NOT STORM-RELATED:

• Several move-up companies responded to a report of a house fire in the 1100 block of Ashbrook Drive NW in Lawrenceville. Crews found a working fire in the garage of a single-family dwelling on arrival. The fire was contained to the garage and sent smoke throughout the structure. There were no injuries reported. The fire cause appears accidental and may have originated from an electrical or battery source in the garage.