Gwinnett Firefighters Rescue 8 From Apartment Blaze

Eight people trapped above a spreading fire walked away safe Monday night, thanks to Gwinnett County firefighters who grabbed ladders and ran toward danger instead of away from it.

The call came in just before midnight at the Cortland Duluth Apartments on Herrington Road. Flames were shooting from a lower-level unit, and smoke filled the stairwells above, cutting off escape routes for residents on higher floors.

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services crews arrived within minutes and immediately saw the problem. People were stuck, and the fire was spreading fast.

Firefighters split into rescue teams, extending both ground ladders and aerial ladders to upper-floor windows. One by one, they brought down eight trapped residents, guiding them to safety as flames crackled below.

Three people complained of smoke inhalation at the scene. Medics checked them over and released them on the spot. No one suffered serious injuries.

Once every resident was accounted for, crews turned their attention to the fire itself. They attacked it with multiple hose lines and elevated water streams, but structural concerns forced them to switch strategies and fight the blaze from outside the building.

Search teams swept through all 28 units to confirm the building was empty. Apartment management reported that 26 of those units were occupied when the fire started.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 1:27 a.m. Investigators are still working to determine what caused it.

The Ripple Effect

The American Red Cross stepped in immediately to help the displaced families, working alongside property management and the county's Office of Emergency Management. Dozens of people lost their homes that night, but they didn't lose their community support.

These eight rescues represent eight families who still have their loved ones, eight chances to rebuild, eight reasons to be grateful for the people who run toward fires when everyone else runs away.

In a world that often focuses on what goes wrong, Monday night in Gwinnett County is a reminder of what goes right when trained professionals show up ready to help and communities rally around those in need.