Update: Early Morning Fire Damages Spalding Road Business

Story update: 12:30 p.m., Friday, March 25.

This morning at 3:02 a.m. Fire Station No. 4 firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire in the office building located at AKZO Nobel on Spalding Drive, across the street from the fire station. No injuries were reported.

By late-morning firefighters were still working to ensure there were no hot spots in the building which could re-ignite the fire that occurred during the early morning hours at AkzoNobel's office building located at 5555 Spalding Drive.

No word yet on the cause of the fire said Capt. Tommy Rutledge. "It appears the fire originated in the front side of building, on the side fronting Spalding Drive," said Rutledge.

"The building was heavily damanged but no injuries were reported," he said. AkzoNobel is an international company that produces car refinishing and coating products. However, there were no products stored at this location said Rutledge. The two-story building was used as an adminstrative office only.

Fire Station No. 4 first reported to the alarm but four additional stations responded, Nos. 19, 23, 1 and 15.

Firefighters and police closed Spalding Drive between Peachtree Parkway and Triangle Parkway, said Tommy Rutledge of the Gwinnett Fire Department.

Firefighters said they could see the red glow of the flames from the firestation and reported heavy fire showing from the front of the building and flames and black smoke coming through the roof.

Fire crews attempting to enter the building were forced back out because of the intense fire and the partial collapse of the building.

The building is an administrative office building for AKZO Nobel, a car refinishing and coating company. Company officials on the scene said that no one should have been in the building overnight.