Chapel Estates Lane Home a Total Loss

Investigators are attempting to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a Dacula home Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters were called to the 1100 block of Chapel Estates Lane after the occupant of the house heard a loud explosion.

According to a press release issued by Capt. Tommy Rutledge, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer, the occupant (an adult female) and a small child were home at the time. The woman looked outside and saw the upper deck of the house engulfed in flame, Rutledge said.

The woman and the child escaped unharmed.

By the time firefighters arrived, the 7,000-square-foot home was well involved with fire. Firefighters were unable to enter the home and observed flames shooting from the roof.

"Firefighters flowed water from multiple hoselines, master streams, and an aerial ladder to bring the blaze under control," Rutledge said.

Winds drove the blaze towards an adjacent home. A grass and woods fire was also burning in the back yard of the home. Firefighters checked neighboring streets for potential spot fires.

"We are fortunate that fire crews were able to contain the fire to the one-house and kept it from spreading to any additional properties," Rutledge said.

According to Rutledge, the home and contents are a total loss.

The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the two adults and two children displaced by the fire. There were no injuries reported.