Officials say six people lived at the Dunwoody Drive address as crews battled flames in predawn cold.
FOREST PARK, Ga. — Two adults were hospitalized early Monday after a fast-moving fire gutted a home on Dunwoody Drive in Forest Park, where firefighters worked in below-freezing temperatures and reported downed power lines on the structure, according to city fire officials.
The blaze comes as metro Atlanta recovers from a weekend ice storm that strained power lines and left frigid air in place. Forest Park fire leaders said six residents were inside when the fire erupted before sunrise; neighbors woke the household and helped them escape. Investigators are examining whether fallen lines found on the roof played a role, and they are also reviewing where the flames first took hold. The house is a total loss, officials said, and the cause remains under investigation.
Firefighters were dispatched around 4:30 a.m. to the 5000 block of Dunwoody Drive and arrived to flames shooting above the roofline and wind pushing the fire through the structure, officials said. A woman jumped from a second-story window to reach safety as crews advanced hose lines and searched for anyone trapped. “It was outrageous — I mean, I’ve never seen a fire like that in my life,” neighbor Lilly Morgan said. Battalion Chief David Flagg said six people lived at the address and two were taken to a hospital. Crews knocked down the main body of fire and worked hotspots into the morning.
Officials said the temperature hovered near 20 degrees as engines and ladder trucks operated on the street, complicating water flow and footing for firefighters. Public information officer Javon Anthony-Lloyd said crews believe the fire began toward the back of the home, though the exact ignition point is still unknown. Fire personnel also noted power lines resting on the house when they arrived. No firefighter injuries were reported. The conditions of the two hospitalized adults were not immediately released, and officials did not identify any of the residents by name.
The Monday fire follows a weekend of ice and wind that toppled limbs and contributed to scattered outages across metro Atlanta, placing extra demands on first responders. In Forest Park, a commercial blaze earlier this month prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order, underscoring a busy start to the year for local crews. Nationally, winter cold is a common backdrop for house fires as heating sources work harder; locally, officials have urged caution during cold snaps in prior seasons. Neighbors on Dunwoody Drive described hearing pops and seeing sparks as heavy fire consumed the home.
Investigators with Forest Park Fire & Emergency Services and the fire marshal’s office are interviewing witnesses, mapping burn patterns, and coordinating with utility crews to evaluate the downed lines. Officials said they will return to the scene for daylight follow-up and will release a determination once laboratory and scene analyses are complete. No charges have been filed. If the building is insured, adjusters are expected to begin their assessment after investigators finish their work this week.
By midmorning, yellow tape cordoned off the block as wind rattled charred framing and the smell of smoke hung over the street. “I heard explosions and ran to bang on doors,” said neighbor Juana Hernandez, who told reporters everyone moved quickly once awake. Flagg described the house as “a complete loss,” saying the front and back were barely connected after the roof collapsed in places. Neighbors watched as a drone surveyed the debris field and crews overhauled smoldering pockets.
As of Monday afternoon, investigators had not named an official cause. The next update is expected after scene processing and interviews are completed, which officials said could come later this week.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.