Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS -- A child alerted a Norcross family to a fire that ultimately destroyed their home Thursday evening, officials said.

Gwinnett County fire department spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said crews responded to the single-story home on the 2800 block of Payne Road at about 7:40 p.m. Thursday, finding the structure fully engulfed and flames spread to the backyard.

With the two adults and three child residents safely outside, it took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control, Rutledge said, containing the damage to the home and some of the yard.

The house was declared a total loss, but, thanks in part to one of the family's children, no injuries were reported.

"It was one of the children who saw flames from a back window and alerted everyone else to the fire," Rutledge said.

Family members reported first seeing the garage and a vehicle inside burning, but fire officials said the cause and origin of the blaze remained undetermined and under investigation Thursday night.

"We're just fortunate that everyone was able to get out safe," Rutledge said.