Gwinnett Daily Post

BUFORD -- A sprinkler system helped keep a Tuesday morning fire in check at a Buford business, fire officials said.

Gwinnett County firefighters were called to the Pak Mail location at 2590 Hamilton Mill Road at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday after a passerby reported seeing smoke coming from the door of the business. Upon arrival, crews found a fire smoldering in a back room, spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.

Firefighters extinguished hot spots, but the business' sprinkler system helped immensely, Rutledge said.

"The sprinkler system kept the fire at bay and prevented flames from spreading past the room of origin," Rutledge said. "This is a prime example of the effectiveness of fire sprinklers to prevent destruction of an entire building from fire."

The blaze caused extensive damage to one room, but neighboring businesses sustained only "slight smoke damage," officials said.

The exact cause of the fire was listed as undetermined and under investigation. The business was closed at the time of the blaze and no injuries were reported.