LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Gwinnett fire investigators determined that an early morning fire at Lake Sweetwater Apartments in Lawrenceville was accidental.
The fire was called out just after 7 a.m.
Investigators said the fire started after a cigarette was discarded in a plastic pail.
The pail was located on a wooden deck on the back of the building which caught fire and spread to the apartment units.
On arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and fire conditions on the second floor and fire in the attic.
Residents Keith and Talibah Gilbert, who have two young daughters, were happy to make it out alive. The family was alerted by Gwinnett County police going door to door telling residents to run for their lives to escape the flames that destroyed eight units.
"We are just thankful we got out," they said. "Very thankful because we don't care about the material things. We were able to get our babies out."
No arrests will be made for this incident. The person responsible for the accident has not been identified.
Fourteen people were displaced.
A cat was also rescued from the most heavily enflamed apartment unit and appeared to be in good health.
Firefighters will get the assistance of Animal Control to unite the cat with its family.
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