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Fire Rescue
1950 W. Exchange Place
Tucker, Georgia 30084
Phone: 678-406-7750
Map
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| History
The DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department serves as a model for other departments throughout the nation.
It was formed in 1937 in Decatur, GA. For many years, personnel worked out of different buildings
and businesses located throughout the County. Each station location had its own private fire phone.
Fires were reported directly to the station from the caller who got the listing from the phone book. |
| In the 50's, Personnel training consisted a few officers obtaining official training at various fire schools
and passed along their knowledge to new firefighters. Stations created their operation manuals
and held fundraising benefits for equipment. Firefighters who wanted to drive on the apparatus were trained
in a day on a garbage truck. Whereas, today recruits are trained for approximately |
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four months before
they are assigned to work at a Station. In 1957, the county began to issue turnout gear. Prior this time,
recruits received "hand-me down" equipment and used personal time and money for training.
In 1971, citizens and Ambulance Company owners complained about the inadequate service of ambulatory service,
the Dekalb County Commissioners; appointed an ambulance study committee.
The Ambulance Study Committee recommended that the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) be organized within
the Fire Department. The Fire Department responded to all rescue calls and the Department formed its
EMS division in 1973. |
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Additional stations were being constructed to accommodate the growth of the County and the increase
in call volume. In the early 2002,
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the Department became fully integrated; most stations
had an assigned fire apparatus and a rescue transport unit. This year,
Chief David Foster, CEO Vernon Jones and the Board of Commissioners broke ground
for construct of the 26th Fire Rescue Station located on McAfee Road in Decatur.
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Today, DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department consists of 812 sworn personnel and 36 civilians.
The Department currently ranks 10th in the nation as the busiest Department and provides services
to approximately 700,000 citizens. |
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For its work in the community in addition to providing emergency services,
in May 2006, the Department received the Georgia Emergency Medical Services of the Year Award from
the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services.
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