Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS — The fact that Gwinnett County firefighters were already responding to a downed power line nearby likely enabled them to limit the damage from a second fire at a Norcross business.

Fire crews responded to a downed power line near Buford Highway and Langford Road in Norcross at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday, spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said. Firefighters had been on scene for about 10 minutes and already had the subsequent brush fire under control when they noticed smoke coming from the eaves of a landscaping business some 30 feet away.

Efforts were redirected toward the structure fire.

“The business was closed at the time and firefighters had to force entry inside to combat the blaze and conduct a search,” Rutledge said.

The fire caused moderate damage to a portion of the main level and extended to the second floor. No one was at the business at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

“We were fortunate to have a fire crew already on the scene when the building caught fire,” Rutledge said. “The firefighters acted quickly to control the fire and the business and protect the property.”

It was unknown if the downed line played any role in igniting the fire inside the landscaping business.