Tragedy Brings Focus on Fire Safety

It’s a cautionary story Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge would rather not use to make his point about fire safety.

A Dacula man and his 8-year-old son . According to fire investigators, there was no evidence of a working smoke detector. The boy was the only family member who was awake when the blaze hit sometime after 8 a.m.

“The mother stated that she did have a smoke detector and that her husband often checked it,” Rutledge said Friday afternoon. “No one reported hearing the alarm sound at the time of the fire.”

The fire is still under investigation. Firefighters pulled the man and boy from the fire. According to Rutledge's report, they might have gone back into the house to fight the fire. The father was dead at the scene; the boy died later at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville.

Unfortunately, it is tragedy that often focuses attention on fire safety. In his press release report Friday morning on the fire, Rutledge wrote, “This tragic fire is a prime example of why a working smoke detector and home fire escape plan are so important.”

Later, in a phone interview, he added, “The simple message is, you have to make sure you practice home fire safety … Everyone needs to know what to do, youngest to oldest.”

Rutledge said it starts with smoke detectors, which should be installed on every level of the house and especially near bedrooms. The more smoke detectors, the better, and they should be tested at least twice a year.

Rutledge said most fatal fires occur in the home and mostly between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., frequently when people are asleep.

“That’s why being able to hear a smoke alarm is so important,” he said.

All residents should discuss what to do when fire breaks out and have a plan of what to do and where to go.

More info can be found of the Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services website.

If you have any questions about fire safety, call 678-518-4850 or email fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.