VIDEO: A fallen DeKalb County firefighter was honored during a procession on Wednesday as his body was taken to a funeral home.
Master Firefighter Preston Fant, 53, died on Monday trying to save a fellow firefighter while responding to a warehouse fire in Lithonia. He had been with DeKalb County Fire Rescue for 21 years.
The procession left the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office at 10 a.m. and headed to West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta.
Atlanta News First spoke to families watching the procession who said they didn’t know Fant, but wanted to show their respect. One man said he’s a firetruck mechanic and would share a laugh with Fant when he’d come to work on a Dekalb County firetruck. Officials have not yet announced funeral details for Fant.
“Firefighter Fant had the courage to do what is required. He ran towards danger and in so doing, he succumbed to his injuries,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Fant’s coworkers described him as a great firefighter and a dedicated family man.
