DeKalb County broke ground on the new $10.5 million Fire Station No. 5 in Tucker, a new two-story, 14,600-square-foot facility signifying an investment in the health and safety of firefighters in the county.
Located at 4329 Cowan Road, the facility will replace the existing station on Lawrenceville Highway, which was built in 1955 and is one of the oldest fire stations still operating in DeKalb County.
“This is what our commitment to public safety looks like in action,” DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said. “Our firefighters spend their careers protecting us. We have a responsibility to make sure the facilities where they work, train, eat, and rest are designed to protect them as well.”
The groundbreaking brought together Cochran-Johnson as well as members of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, City of Tucker Mayor Anne Lerner, public safety officials, the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District, and members of DeKalb County Fire Rescue on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Designed with firefighter health and wellness in mind, the new station will feature designated hot and cold zones to help reduce cross-contamination and separate contaminated turnout gear and laundry facilities from living and dining areas.
The facility will also include individual sleeping quarters, a commercial-grade kitchen, a workout room, modern restroom facilities, and a multipurpose community room.
Fire Station No. 5 is one of three new DeKalb County fire stations funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, and construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
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In other DeKalb fire rescue news, local firefighters will begin the 37th annual “Give Burns the Boot” fundraising campaign on Sept. 13 to raise money to support the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.
During the two-week campaign, which ends on Sept. 27, residents can expect to see DeKalb firefighters at shopping centers, businesses, and other locations throughout the county collecting donations.
The Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation was founded in 1982 by a group of DeKalb County firefighters and has since grown into a statewide organization serving Georgians impacted by burn injuries.
The “Give Burns the Boot” campaign was launched in 1990 to further support the foundation’s work. Since then, firefighters have collected more than $18 million in support of the foundation and the individuals and families it serves.
More information about the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation and its programs can be found on the foundation’s website or by calling 404-320-6223.
