Fire Displaces Lilburn Family of Five

A house fire caused by lightning Monday evening displaced a Lilburn family of five, including a special-needs boy.

Fikri Erdem said his home on the 5000 block of Remington Court, inside the Lilburn city limits, shook from the thunder when an intense lightning storm moved through the area around 7 p.m.

The resulting fire burned through the roof of the single-story home, located in the area near Hood Road and Lawrenceville Highway. A fast response from firefighters limited most of the damage to the attic, according to Gwinnett Fire spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge. The main-level living area of the home received smoke and water damage.

Firefighters were dispatched at 7:16 p.m., according to Rutledge, following a 911 call from the homeowner.

 “There was lots of lightning,” said Erdem, a native of Turkey. “The last one hit real close and shook [the house]. I wanted to go outside and see what happened, but my wife said don’t go outside, it’s dangerous.

“Then I saw smoke [coming from the sun room] and we ran outside with the kids.”

That included 3- and 6-year-old daughters, and an 8-year-old son who suffers from cerebal palsy. Erdem said his son cannot walk or talk.

“After the lightning [hit], smoke came in the house very quick. I just picked him up and we ran outside.”

The son was fine, his father said, and no other injuries were reported.

The family went across the street to a neighbor’s house to call in the emergency.

Rutledge said firefighters fought the blaze while lighting continued flashing in the area.

“They worked very hard and very fast under adverse conditions,” Rutledge said. “They were not only laying hose lines, catching the fire hydrants to supply water, taking attack lines into the home and positioning the ground ladders. They were doing so in the midst of all the lightning. There was lighting popping everywhere. Very hazardous work and they did a great job.

Erdem said the family will stay with relatives in the Norcross area.

“Everyone is safe. That’s good. But it was a bad day for us.”