BUFORD — To answer the burning questions about what so many shoppers saw — and shared — on social media Tuesday night, Gwinnett County firefighters say a dumpster fire outside Dillard’s at the Mall of Georgia briefly extended to the exterior of the department store but did not spread into the main building.

Firefighters were dispatched at 7:28 p.m. to a reported business fire at Dillard’s, 3333 Buford Drive, after 911 callers reported flames coming from a dumpster near the mall and spreading toward the building. Crews arrived within five minutes to find fire in a roll-off dumpster extending into the parapet wall of the three-story structure.

According to fire officials, the blaze involved the exterior parapet wall above the loading dock area, with moderate fire conditions along a connected exterior wall. Fire crews deployed an initial hose line while search and evacuation teams moved through the store to ensure all occupants were safely out.

Once the building was fully evacuated, additional hose lines were used to extinguish fire that had spread from the building to a nearby tree and to protect surrounding exposures. Fire control was established by 7:51 p.m.

Officials said no fire extended into the main Dillard’s sales floor, though heavy smoke filled the building until firefighters were able to ventilate the space using fans. Approximately 40 occupants were evacuated by firefighters with assistance from Mall of Georgia security. No injuries were reported.

Dillard’s employees told firefighters they initially noticed a small fire in the dumpster and attempted to put it out using two fire extinguishers. When those efforts were unsuccessful, employees began evacuating the store as the fire alarm activated.

Dillard’s management and Mall of Georgia management were on scene working alongside fire crews throughout the response. Medical personnel were also staged for firefighter rehabilitation.

Fire officials said the fire was accidental and originated in the dumpster.

Responding equipment included four engines, two ladder trucks, one squad, one medical unit, three command staff units, a medical supervisor, an air and light unit, and a public information officer.

While dramatic flames and smoke drew attention online, fire officials emphasized that the quick response and coordinated evacuation prevented injuries and limited damage to the building’s exterior.