Teen Dies in Possible Hot Tub Drowning

An 18-year-old Buford teen was found unresponsive in his family's hot tub. The exact cause of death has not been determined.

Authorities are investigating the possible drowning death of a Buford teen. Paramedics were called to a home in the 500 block of Emerald Parkway in Buford shortly after 7 p.m. on June 5. Crews found family members performing CPR on an 18-year-old male. According to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Lt. Colin S. Rhoden, the teen was found in the bottom of a hot tub by his parents.  "Crews quickly assessed the patient’s condition, and then administered advanced life support measures," Rhoden said in a released statement. "Gwinnett Fire Paramedics continued treatment and rapidly transported the male (emergency) to Northside Forsyth Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased." The teen's name has not been …

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Lightning Strike Causes Outbuilding Fire

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services crews responded to several storm related incidents on May 21.

An outbuilding was completely destroyed by fire after lightning struck a nearby tree during Monday evening's storms. Firefighters were dispatched to the 2900 block of Bart Johnson Road (off Hamilton Mill Road) in Buford at 7:25 p.m. after a 50x50 outbuilding caught fire. According to a Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services (GCFES) press release, the outbuilding was near a travel trailer, propane tanks and a single family residence. "Due to the advanced state of the fire, crews operated in a defensive mode," stated GCFES public information officer Lt. Eric Eberly. "Firefighters deployed numerous handlines to protect exposures and extinguish the fire." The outbuilding is a total loss, but the residence was undamaged. As severe weather …

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Two Injured in Alcovy Road Accident

A 5-year-old child and an adult female were injured when their car crashed into a tree.

UPDATED 10:24 a.m. on Jan. 9 A 5-year-old child was temporarily trapped in a vehicle as a result of a Monday morning accident on Alcovy Road. Fire crews were called to the scene shortly after 8:30 a.m. in response to a report of a vehicle crashed into a tree. After being extricated from the vehicle by fire crews, the child was transported to Egleston for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident. The child had significant injuries to the lower extremities and was listed in guarded but stable condition, according to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Lt. Eric Eberly. The accident, which occurred in the 1500 block of Alcovy Road, also resulted in serious injuries to one adult female. The female was …

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Dog Perishes in Fire, Family and Pet Squirrel Uninjured

House sustains extensive damage after “control burn” outside of garage area spreads to residence.

A Lawrenceville family escaped injury after a Monday afternoon fire extensively damaged a Suwanee Trace residence. The Jan. 2 blaze, which broke out shortly after 2 p.m., resulted in the death of the family’s pet dog. Two other dogs were rescued by firefighters. The family’s pet squirrel is believed to be uninjured. “The pet squirrel was seen by firefighters exiting the residence when they were making entry and is presumed ok,” said Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Lt. Eric Eberly in a released statement. All five family members -- three adults and two tenants -- were outside and uninjured when fire crews arrived. The cause of the fire has been listed as accidental. According to a fire department press…

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Arsonist Torches Trash Cans

Police and fire investigators looking into a series of more than 20 intentionally set trash bin fires.

UPDATED Dec. 28 at 11:16 a.m. Several trash cans were burned, but no one was injured in a string of arson incidents that occurred on Dec. 22 in the Dacula area. A New Hope Road resident arrived home shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 22 to find Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services personnel extinguishing two flaming trash cans at her residence. The incident was just one of eight reported that evening. Police and firefighters were also called to homes on Gracebrook Drive, Luke Edwards Road and Indian Bluffs Drive. The eight incidents were the latest in a series of intentionally set trash bin fires in the Dacula and Lawrenceville areas dating back to August according to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer …

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Gwinnett Paramedic Program Achieves Top Accreditation

Gwinnett County is the only Fire and Emergency Services department in the state to receive this accreditation and one of only two in the southeast.

Having an accident or a medical emergency is never a good thing - but should it occur, Gwinnett County is probably the best place for it to happen. Officials from Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services called a press conference Wednesday to announce that GCFES has recently received a prestigious accreditation for its paramedic training program. Not only is GCFES the first fire department in the state to receive this accreditation, but it is also one of only two in the southeast and one of very few in the nation. The only other agency in Georgia that carries the accreditation is GCFES’s partners in the endeavor, Gwinnett Technical College. “Emergency medical calls are a large part of what we do here in Gwinnett, so we want to provide …

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Gwinnett County News

Firefighters Rescue Teen Trapped in Chimney

Crews found 16-year-old screaming inside a fireplace chimney.

UPDATED Nov. 15 at 5:15 p.m. Gwinnett County firefighters found a 17-year-old male trapped inside the chimney of a Norcross home earlier this afternoon. Fire crews arrived at the Lanier Boulevard home just before 1 p.m. and heard someone screaming. Crews quickly determined a person was trapped inside the chimney. According to Lt. Eric Eberly with Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services (GCFES), the department’s Technical Rescue Team was called to the scene. “The on scene units were able to quickly extricate the male from the fireplace in short order,” Eberly said in a released statement. According to Eberly, the 17-year-old said he had been in the chimney since approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. The teen was medically evaluated by …

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Good Samaritan Who Rescued Woman Honored

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services held a ceremony to recognize a UPS driver who pulled a woman from a burning car.

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services held a ceremony Thursday morning in honor of Dale Simmons for his actions in helping an injured woman in a car accident. Simmons, from Hampton, Georgia, was on his UPS route delivering packages when he saw an accident occur on Highway 29 in Lawrenceville. A UPS service provider for over 20 years, Simmons wore his uniform as he received recognition for his actions on August 25. “I was coming up Highway 29 when I saw a dump truck hit a car and there was debris and smoke everywhere,” said Simmons. “I made sure the people in the truck were okay and then I checked on the lady in the car.” “She was a little disoriented from hitting the airbag,” said Simmons. He continued to make sure …

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Fire Officials Urge Caution When Burning Leaves, Other Debris

County ordinance regulates how and when outdoor burning may take place.

Now that the outdoor burn ban has ended, fire officials are reminding citizens to follow regulations and exercise caution when burning leaves, branches or other debris. The outdoor burn ban for metro Atlanta ended on Sept. 30. However, certain days may still be designated no burn days due to weather and atmospheric conditions. Before doing any outdoor burning, check the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction (CRR)/Fire Marshal’s website or call the Burn Information Line at (678) 518-4979.  Information is updated daily by 9 a.m.       According to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Service public information officer Capt. Tommy Rutledge, firefighters first take an educational approach when responding to burn violation complaints.          “…

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Trophy Club Golf Cart Barn Destroyed in Blaze

No injuries reported. More than 30 golf carts burned.

A Sunday afternoon blaze destroyed the golf cart barn at the Trophy Club of Apalachee in Dacula. Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Capt. Tommy Rutledge said someone on the golf range noticed smoke coming from the cart barn shortly after 1 p.m. and alerted a Trophy Club employee. Rutledge said the employee contacted 911 and attempted to move carts away from the building. Fire crews arrived at the Dacula Road business within five minutes of being dispatched, but by that time the building was already fully engulfed in flames. The building and its contents are a total loss, Rutledge said. Rutledge said the wood frame building burned quickly due in part to the fact the building was open at both ends …

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Kristi Reed

11:52 am on Monday, September 19, 2011

Great photos Cliff! Thanks for sharing.   more ›