Community Corner
First Person: Father, Daughter Visit Fire Station on 40th Anniversary Celebration
Since 1971, Gwinnett's Fire Department has come to the rescue.
Editor's Note: Lilburn Patch photo contributor Gordon Lynch and his daughter Cameron visited the Gwinnett Fire Station No. 3 Sunday for an open house held as part of the department's celebration of 40 years of service. While Dad captured photos, Cameron shot interviews on her IFlip video camera. Below is their report. And please check out their work attached to this story.
By Gordon and Cameron Lynch
The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services celebrated 40 years of service on Saturday, March 20. The county marked the event with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at fire stations throughout Gwinnett. Firefighters gave tours, showed the trucks and equipment, and answered questions for residents. Children were offered lessons in fire safety, allowed to try on firemen’s gear and equipment and even sit in the seats of the fire trucks.
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“The Gwinnett County Fire Department responded to its first emergency call on March 30, 1971, at 10:15 a.m.,” according to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The fire department protects over 800,000 people in its 437 square mile area. The department includes 850 people who responded to 63,000 emergencies in 2010.
My daughter, Cameron, and I arrived at Fire Station No. 3 on Five Forks-Trickum Road in Lilburn around 2 p.m.. We were met by six firefighters.
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The first to greet us was Caleb Jordan, who had been with the fire station for a year but was already a seasoned professional. He explained to us that the firemen worked 24-hour shifts, one day on and two days off. The station housed 18 firefighters, three shifts of five men each with one additional to cover in case of vacation or sickness. This additional man could also be temporarily assigned to another neighboring fire station to help fill personnel requirements.
We also met firefighter Grant Carter, in his seventh year of service, paramedic/driver Lanny Britt and Lieutenant Jason McVey, head of the Fire Station No. 3. Lieutenant McVey introduced us to Gwinnett Fire Chief Bill Myers. We toured the station, viewed the common area that housed the kitchen and lounge area and then on to the sleeping quarters. Each approximately 6 x 8 room had a single bed, three lockers and in some cases, a desk. Carter explained that each room was shared by three firefighters, each on differing shifts.
Lanny Britt, a paramedic who grew up in neighboring Grayson, has been with the fire department for 12 of his 22 years with the county. He explained , "We get to help people. People love firemen, they depend on us to come out and help them with situations they have not been able to help themselves in. It's a good feeling to be able to go out to help somebody whether it be medical or fire or a car wreck.”
According to Chief Bill Myers, “The thing that is most special to me, about our organization, is that during that time of evolution and growth, and really massive growth, is the one thing that hasn’t changed in the last 40 years, is the small-family feel of our organization. No matter where you go, to any fire station in the county, you’re going to find that it feels like family.”
That family feeling extended to 6-year-old Sierra Mearkle, who visited the fire station with her baby brother Miles, her mother Desiree Cochran and grandmother Deora Mc Duffie. Sierra was clutching a Dr. Suess children’s book that she had each of the firemen sign. She was very excited by all the autographs she acquired.
For Carter, that sense of family extends to his involvement in “Fight for Air Climb Atlanta,” which benefits the American Lung Association. Grant and 21 other Gwinnett firefighters race other teams in a 50-story stair climbing challenge. His team hopes to extend their first-place finish streak to five this year. The firefighters last year also finished first in fundraising for the event, according to the Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services Newsletter.
As for Cameron and myself, we truly enjoyed meeting the firefighters of Station No. 3. Cameron shot some video on her IFlip camcorder as I was shooting pictures. She was also able to pose with the staff for a few photos. All in all a great father/daughter day, thanks to our local Gwinnett Fire Department.
