Update: Fallen DeKalb County, GA, Firefighter Overcome by Fire Conditions in Warehouse
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(TNS)
A longtime DeKalb County firefighter died Monday after battling a warehouse fire, officials said.
Master Firefighter Preston Fant, 53, was “overcome by fire conditions” as crews worked the commercial structure fire, according to department Chief Darnell Fullum. Fant is the first DeKalb firefighter to die in the line of duty, the chief confirmed.
The blaze broke out around 1:30 p.m. in a warehouse on South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road called Digital Thunderdome, an indie film production studio used for movies and music videos.
“I did know him,” Fullum said of the 21-year firefighting veteran and father of five.
Overcome with emotion during a Tuesday morning news conference, the chief struggled to find the words to describe his friend.
“I would often see him. He was a great firefighter. He was a great family man,” Fullum said.
As crews battled the blaze, Fullum said they quickly realized Fant needed help and began a rescue operation. When Fant was located, they pulled him out and started life-saving efforts as they rushed him to Grady Memorial Hospital.
Details about how exactly the situation played out were not released. Fullum said those pieces are still under investigation, as is the cause of the fire.
Fant and his squad, who were from Fire Station No. 24, were “a tight group,” department spokesperson Capt. Jaeson Daniels said.
Fant would typically ride in the back of their huge firetruck called “The Mule,” Daniels said. It wasn’t a firefighting truck but one that stored tools.
“He was part of a special group that are not only firefighters, but ones who maintained technical skills to include swift water, high-rise (and) trench rescues,” Fullum said. “We lost an elite firefighter and a brother. I ask you to keep his wife and five children and his entire family, as well as the DeKalb County Fire Rescue family, in your prayers and thoughts.”
Scott Hansen, who owns the warehouse, said no one was inside at the time of the fire. They typically work off-site and store props and sets at the location, he said, and he was actually on his way to pick up props when he got a call that his studio was on fire.
“We heard about the firefighter perishing, and that’s — we’re just very saddened by that,“ Hansen said. “I don’t even know how to process that, someone dying trying to fight a fire at our warehouse.”
The studio was filled with sets and props for various film projects, according to Sullivan and Forrest Duncan, managers at the nearby Starbase Atlanta comic book store.
“It may be like a regular warehouse, but they’ve done some incredible stuff with their studio,” Sullivan Duncan told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a phone interview Tuesday. “There are all different types of sets, like a room full of different sets that they built. They had a big set in there that was a cave, like a giant prop cave. They also had a morgue set.”
Several metro Atlanta fire departments offered their condolences on social media late Monday.
“Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to our brothers and sisters at DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department following the tragic loss of one of their own in the line of duty,” Cherokee County fire said in a Facebook statement. “We stand with you in solidarity during this difficult time and honor the ultimate sacrifice made in service to others.”
In a statement on Facebook, the Paulding County Fire-Rescue Department said it wanted to show sympathy to both DeKalb Company 24 and the entire department.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and brothers & sisters in the fire service during this difficult time,” the statement added.
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