Fire Destroys Vacant Apartment Building

A vacant Norcross-area apartment building near I-85 was completely destroyed Thursday by an undetermined fire.

Firefighters responded to around 5:15 a.m. after a passerby reported seeing a brush fire, according to a report by Gwinnett Fire spokesman Tommy Rutledge.

The multistory building, located on the 1400 block of Chase Lane near Dawson Boulevard and Pleasantdale Road, was completely ablazed with heavy smoke and flames. The flames were under control by 6:18 a.m.

Low water pressure inside the complex caused complications with extinguishing the fire promptly. Firefighters overcame the drop in water pressure by laying a supply line to a fire hyrdrant on Dawson Boulevard.

Residents in two neighboring apartment buildings were evacuated, but no injuries were reported, according to the report. No damage was found on the buildings.

A previous fire had been at the same building in late 2011, says the report. Flames had been heavily on the right side in 2011, while the fire in Thursday's incident dominated the left side. A security fence had been around the building after the previous fire, and it's unknown if any work was being done to the building, says the report.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The report says it is unknown if the fire started outside or inside the building.

Additionally, the fire department is working with the apartment's management to determine why there was low water pressure in the complex.