City of Decatur Fire Rescue

We had the absolute joy of hosting Happy Tails Pet Therapy at Station 1 earlier this week! These volunteers share their pets unconditional, extremely fluffy, and cute love with people all over! This visit is just another day on the job for these pups, but meant the absolute world for us here. Furry friends are always welcomed here at Decatur Fire. Unless you’re a human with facial hair on shift, then you need to shave.♥️ Thank you Happy Tails!

Another incredible Madison Avenue Soap Box Derby in the books! Check out a few of Chief Violante’s public safety favorites while judging the competition. She definitely wasn’t biased, but the rest of the department might be… 🚒♥️

Dalmatians and Firefighters… a historical bond that can never be broken! Assistant Chief Violante received a few smooches from Griswold the Dalmatian, on his way to a hard’s day work of playing! He said something about his great, great, great, great uncle on his mom’s side was a firehouse dog! Small world, big responsibilities! We look forward to seeing you and your human again, Griswold!

Shoutout to B-shift for helping start Smokey’s story and seeing it through to a beautiful ending. After being trapped in an engine compartment for two days, this sweet kitten was finally freed thanks to a little encouragement and one inspector’s tiny hands.
Thank you to the community member for coming by and trusting us with such a delicate problem, as cats tend to hide in these places when the weather gets cold!

With it being late in the day, Smokey was brought to DeKalb County Animal Services by Decatur Fire personnel. And the best part? Almost immediately, he found his forever family with these two amazing humans! Love at first sight!
We’re proud to serve our community in every way we can—and grateful this call had the happiest ending.

Remember, there’s many more furry friends waiting for their story to begin at your local shelter, consider adopting!

Last weekend, The Guide Dog Foundation gave A-shift a visit! It is great training for the future four-legged helpers so they can familiarize themselves with emergency personnel and equipment! Also, we like to pet dogs, and rock them like babies. What an amazing team that surely deserves a round of a-paws!

Elected by his peers… Congratulations Jones on being named our 2025 Firefighter of the Year!

Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your humor, your friendship, your expertise, and your willingness to always step up. Most of all, thank you for being the kind of person who makes everyone around you—and the organization you serve—better. As a whole, you are irreplaceable.

You are truly deserving of this honor, and we are incredibly grateful and proud to call you one of our own. We rise by lifting others; so let us do the lifting (or maybe just Inspector Jackman, apparently) of you for once!

Congratulations, FAO Jones. We appreciate you more than words can say! What a man!

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! Did you know 13% of career firefighters in the United States identify as Hispanic or Latino? Representation is an important part of public safety! Thank you for building bridges, breaking barriers, and sharing your cultures. The fire service, and the country, would not be the same without it. An honorable mention: 2/3 of these firefighters are amazing chefs for their shift often including foods from their cultures. 1/3 of these firefighters burnt hotdogs in the microwave. We still appreciate them all!

On the 25th anniversary of the tragedies of September 11, 2001, our firefighters gathered to honor and remember the lives forever changed that day.
We remember the innocent civilians who lost their lives, the firefighters and police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the countless first, second, and third responders who ran toward danger. We also remember those who continue to carry the physical and emotional scars of that day.
From climbing Stone Mountain to represent the stairs that firefighters relentlessly climbed that day in their efforts to rescue others, to paying our respects during a remembrance ceremony, we honor their sacrifice and courage. Today and always, we will never forget.

Congratulations to Captain Kelvonte Byrd on receiving the Decatur High School 9/11 Remembrance Award. This award is bestowed upon public servants who embody the courage, compassion, and dedication demonstrated by the responders of September 11, 2001.

Captain Byrd is an integral part of our department and our community, and we are incredibly grateful and proud to have him serving alongside us.

To quote another great fireman, Captain Jeremy Storey:

“We are walking in the shadows of giants, resting in the shade of trees we did not plant, and enjoying a reputation that we did not earn. So we must continue in the greatness that has been placed in front of us.”
May we always honor those who came before us by continuing to serve with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to others.

Having another amazing day out at Decatur WatchFest ‘26, keeping the community members and visitors safe and informed!
We’re having fun doing it, too!

Decatur WatchFest26 will be at the square everyday until July 19th! Come out and see us and enjoy the festivities. ⚽️🥅🕺🏽💃🏻

Reminder to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and take breaks when needed! 🚰🧊

Who had better Dance moves?