County officials break ground on new fire station

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson joined members of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, public safety officials, and community leaders on Sept. 3 to break ground the new $10.5 million Fire Station No. 5.  

The new two-story, 14,600-square-foot facility will be constructed at 4329 Cowan Road in Tucker and will replace the existing Fire Station No. 5 at 4013 Lawrenceville Highway. Built in 1955, the current station is one of the oldest fire stations still operating in DeKalb County. 

“Public safety is my number one priority as CEO and today represents exactly what that commitment looks like in action,” said Cochran-Johnson at the groundbreaking ceremony. “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.” 

Fire Station No. 5 is one of three new DeKalb County fire stations funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and scheduled to begin construction this year. 

Designed with firefighter health and wellness at the forefront, the new station will include designated hot and cold zones to reduce the potential for cross-contamination. Soiled turnout gear and laundry facilities will be separated from living quarters, helping limit firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens in sleeping and dining areas. 

The station also will feature individual sleeping quarters, a commercial-grade kitchen, a workout room to support crew wellness, designated restrooms for all gender-identifying crew members, a multipurpose room for community use and exterior landscaping. 

“This new station represents the evolution of public safety in DeKalb County,” said Public Safety Director Darnell Fullum. “Fire Station No. 5 has served this community for more than seven decades. As we honor that history, we are also looking ahead and ensuring our firefighters have a modern facility designed around the realities of today’s fire service, particularly the importance of reducing occupational health risks.” 

DeKalb County Fire Chief Melvin Carter said the facility will provide firefighters with an environment that supports both operational readiness and quality of life. 

“Our firefighters spend a significant portion of their lives in the fire station, and the design of these facilities matters,” said Carter. “This station is being built with our firefighters in mind. Ultimately, taking better care of our crews helps us provide even better service to the community.” 

The program included participation from Tucker Mayor Anne Lerner, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, DeKalb County public safety leadership, the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District, DeKalb County’s SPLOST team, and members of DeKalb County Fire Rescue. The event concluded with the ceremonial turning of the dirt, officially marking the beginning of construction.