3 rescued after homeowner's grandson intentionally set fire to Georgia house, officials say

Three people were rescued over the weekend after a Georgia homeowner’s grandson intentionally set the family’s house on fire, authorities reported.

The fire broke out around 8:53 p.m. Saturday night in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said online.

A neighbor called for help and told authorities there was smoke coming from the outside of the home but everyone had been evacuated. The neighbor also said the homeowners’ grandson tried to burn the house down.    

Fire crews showed up and found that the garage and the backside of the home were on fire. Firefighters used three hose lines to put the fire out and searched the home to make sure everyone had made it out safely.

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The house was extensively damaged and medical crews helped one person at the scene who had a minor medical complaint.

When the fire broke out, there were three adults in the home. 

Neighbor alerted homeowners so they could get out of the house

According to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, the neighbor who made the 911 call saw an individual run away from the home after “obviously setting the home on fire using gas cans.”

The suspect jumped the fence into the neighbor’s yard, allowing the neighbor to detain him until Gwinnett County police arrived. 

“There were no operational smoke alarms inside the home at the time of the fire,” Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said, adding that neighbors told the occupants to leave the home. 

According to fire investigators, the fire started on the ground level in a back corner room.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].