GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Firefighters were called to the Bass Pro Shop in Gwinnett County Thursday night after several boats caught fire.
The fire happened in the parking lot of the store on 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.
When firefighters arrived, they said heavy smoke and fire were showing from the boats in the parking lot on the Interstate 85 side of the building. Crews quickly sprayed water on the fire and some firefighters checked inside the building and roof for fire.
Nearby Sugarloaf Mills Mall was temporarily evacuated as a precaution until crews got the fire under control around 10:30 p.m.
The fire was contained to an area of the parking lot that is used for storage. The fire caused heavy damage to four bass fishing boats and trailers.
Authorities said the fire originated from one of the boats in the lot and spread to the other three that were located in close proximity. The damaged boats were all customer-owned and were reportedly at the shop for repairs.
Mall Security confirmed that no smoke or fire entered the actual mall.
The department’s Hazmat Team was requested to check for potential runoff in a nearby storm drain due to firefighting efforts but none was detected.
The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation. A Fire Investigator was requested to respond to the scene to investigate.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
