By Katie Leslie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
MARIETTA, Ga. — A Marietta man escaped a house fire early Sunday morning that destroyed the two-story home he was in.
Cobb County firefighters responded to the blaze in the 2700 block of Craig Court after a newspaper delivery person called 911 about 5:20 a.m., said Lt. Dan Dupree of Cobb County Fire and Emergency.
Dupree said the home was engulfed in flames and firefighters were forced to battle the blaze from outside. At 5:45 a.m., 911 received a call from a disoriented man who said he was inside the home, Dupree said.
“We didn’t discount it, but we thought that it would be extremely rare for someone to be alive in a house [in this fire],” he said.
Officials were able to use GPS technology to track the man, Robert Gruel, behind the home. He had escaped the house fire, Dupree said. Gruel was taken to North Fulton Regional Hospital and was discharged midday Sunday, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The house is a total loss, Dupree said. As of Sunday morning, firefighters continued to put out hot spots throughout the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Copyright 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution