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Fire that collapsed Gwinnett apartment building displaces nearly 30 people

The Red Cross said it is now providing support to 29 people from 11 families.

A fire that partially collapsed an apartment building in Gwinnett County on Monday night displaced 30 people, including six children, Gwinnett Fire said.

The fire department said two people were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Red Cross said it is now providing support to 29 people from 11 families.

"Red Cross disaster volunteers provided health and emotional support and helped them with essentials such as lodging, clothing and food," the relief agency said. "Caseworkers will continue to work with the families to help them get back on their feet and to provide additional recovery resources available in the community."

Firefighters originally responded to the massive apartment building fire at the Landmark at Bella Vista Apartments on Satellite Boulevard outside of Duluth just after 8:30 p.m.

DeYanira Padilla-Delgado said her roommate survived by jumping out the window.

"My apartment caught fire," she explained. "And everyone tried to jump from a high distance or low distance and ran."

Credit: Gwinnett Fire

"When firefighters were actually on their way to the fire you could see significant columns of smoke," Donald Strother, the assistant public information officer for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, said.

The building, which has 10 units, partially collapsed during the fire. Crews got to work as soon as they arrived.

"Really just trying to knock the fire down to get it to a point or at a situation where we could go inside," Strother said.

Credit: Gwinnett Fire

He said with the initial collapse and the heat, they weren't initially able to go inside to do a proper search of the building. Gwinnett Fire said in an overnight release that once the fire was under control, a search turned up no victims and the property manager confirmed all residents were accounted for.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from reaching the next building, the department said, but they were not able to stabilize the building itself due to extensive fire damage. A team was called in to provide assistance with the structural collapse, the department said.

It's still unclear what might have started the fire. The investigation is ongoing. 

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