DeKalb County Firefighter Succumbs To Injuries In Monday Warehouse Blaze

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA- The DeKalb County community is mourning the loss of a 21-year veteran firefighter, who lost his life while attempting to rescue a fellow firefighter during a commercial warehouse fire on Monday.

The DeKalb County fire department has announced the passing of Master Firefighter Preston Fant who lost his life in an incident on Monday, September 8, 2025. Fant served with DeKalb County Fire Rescue for 21 years.

On Monday, Fant was among dozens of firefighters that were working a warehouse fire that occurred at 2569 South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road. During that blaze Firefighter Fant became trapped while he was attempting to rescue a fellow firefighter. Fellow firefighters were able to remove Fant from the structure and he was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he succumb to his injuries later.

DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum described Firefighter Fant as an extraordinary public servant, admired by his colleagues and beloved in the community. Chief Fullum announced that Fant was stationed at Fire Station 24 located in Stone Mountain and he had numerous areas of specialized training to include; swift water rescue, high-rise operations, and trench rescues.

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson expressed the county’s deep sorrow, offering condolences to the Fant family and pledging the full support of the DeKalb County government during this time of loss. She affirmed that the county stands alongside the family and Fire Rescue Department, committing to walk with them through their grief. In Firefighter Fant’s honor, flags across DeKalb County will be lowered to half-staff. Counseling and support services have also been made available to Fire Rescue personnel as they process the profound loss of their colleague.

DeKalb County officials have confirmed that Fant was the first DeKalb County firefighter to ever die in the line of duty while battling a fire. He leaves behind a loving wife and five children. Funeral arrangements have not been announced at this times.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation at this time.

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Alton Mitchell

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Alton Mitchell is a career journalist, who currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He began his journalistic writing career while attending middle school and continued on through high school earning top honors by becoming his high school newspapers Editor in Chief. During his senior year of high school Mitchell's work received community recognition following an article that helped to save a local elementary school from closure. He would later go on to college where he earned degrees in Political Science and English. Following his graduation from college Mitchell would take on several reporting jobs at smaller publications and worked in roles ranging from a freelance journalist to editorial related roles. His work was recognized and received Press Association Awards in 2021. Writing is a passion and a love for Mitchell and he hopes to enlighten the community he serves through his works with A Mitchell Media LLC.

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