Georgia · Gwinnett County · Fires & Rescues

Mall of Georgia Fire: Janitorial Closet Behind Victoria's Secret and GNC Burns in Buford, Gwinnett County, GA

A floor cleaning machine set off a small fire in a storage closet at the Buford shopping center on Thursday. The mall's sprinklers had it out before crews arrived, and no injuries were reported.

By Nathan Saunders Published Aug. 20, 2026, 3:49 p.m. ET 2 min read No injuries reported

What happened at the Mall of Georgia in Buford?

A small fire broke out Thursday inside a storage closet at the Mall of Georgia, the shopping center in Buford, and the building's own sprinkler heads had the flames out before a fire crew ever reached the door.

Gwinnett County firefighters were sent to the mall and found the work already largely done for them. No injuries were reported.

Where in the mall did the fire start?

In a janitorial storage closet. The closet sits behind Victoria's Secret and GNC.

What caused the fire at the Mall of Georgia?

A walk-behind floor cleaning machine set the fire off by accident, firefighters said.

Firefighters confirmed the fire was accidental, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.

Were shoppers evacuated?

Customers who were in the building at the time said they were sent outside for a short period while crews cleared the scene.

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How did the response end?

The sprinkler system is what actually extinguished the flames, and it did so before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters completed their response at the shopping center and handed the scene back to Mall of Georgia property management.

For more from this part of the metro area, see our Gwinnett County coverage.

What we don't know yet

Frequently asked questions

What happened at the Mall of Georgia on Aug. 20, 2026?
A small fire started in a janitorial storage closet at the Mall of Georgia in Buford, behind the Victoria's Secret and GNC stores. The mall's automatic sprinklers put the flames out before Gwinnett County firefighters got there, and no injuries were reported.

What caused the Mall of Georgia fire?
A walk-behind floor cleaning machine started it by accident, Gwinnett County firefighters said. Firefighters confirmed the fire was accidental.

Were shoppers evacuated from the Mall of Georgia?
Customers who were in the building at the time said they were sent outside for a short period while crews cleared the scene. How long that lasted, and how much of the mall it took in, has not been released.

Who put out the fire at the Mall of Georgia in Buford?
The mall's own automatic sprinkler system did, before Gwinnett County firefighters reached the building. Crews finished their work at the shopping center and handed the scene back to Mall of Georgia property management.