Officials seek answers in Gwinnett apartment fire

Fire broke out Sunday at the KRC Hilltops apartments in Norcross.

Fire broke out Sunday at the KRC Hilltops apartments in Norcross.

Investigators are seeking the cause of a fire at a  two-story, wood-frame apartment building in Norcross.

Crews arrived about 3:25 a.m. Sunday at the KRC Hilltops apartments in the 5000 block of Brook Hollow Parkway, Gwinnett County fire spokesman Tommy Rutledge said.

They found flames and smoke coming from two front units, he said. The fire was contained there.

A resident was treated and released at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

“The occupant was reportedly home in the unit where the fire started but left the scene shortly after police and firefighters arrived,” Rutledge said. “The fire investigator is still attempting to locate the occupant in order to determine what may have sparked the fire.”

The fire-sprinkler system was not operating, Rutledge said.

“A resident stated that the system was turned off in late March due to water leaking in her apartment,” he said.

Firefighters that responded to the leak in March told  management to conduct a fire watch and to notify their sprinkler company for repairs.

It’s not known why the system was not working Sunday, Rutledge said.

American Red Cross of Georgia officials met with 18 people about essentials such as food, clothing and lodging, spokeswoman Sherry Nicholson said.

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