Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services

The potential for injury always exists when playing sports. But closed head injuries, also known as traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can be minimized or even prevented by wearing the right equipment. Be sure to wear a properly fitted helmet if the sport you choose to play calls for it.

You get back exactly what you give. During his 8.5 years with our department, Firefighter III Michael Vandergrift has found those words to be true. I wanted to be a part of a brotherhood when I joined the fire department and that’s exactly what I got. As a senior firefighter, I try to make sure that I’m approachable, especially for our younger firefighters. Though I am not a member of the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management team, younger firefighters may see certain things during a call that they need help pushing through afterwards so, I always try to make people smile and laugh. That even includes the diverse community that we serve. Everyone deserves to smile and I enjoy helping them do that. Michael, thank you for your positive disposition.

#TBT Business fires like this one that occurred in Lawrenceville on April 7, 1978, increased our awareness for fire and life safety in the workplace. We now have safety programs like the Business F.A.C.T. (Firefighters And Communities Together) that teaches the proper use of fire extinguishers. For more information, please contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction section at 678.518.4845 or e-mail [email protected]. #GwinnettFire50

Firefighters perform search and rescue techniques at working house fires for all life, including pets. Our trucks are equipped with masks specifically designed for pets suffering from smoke inhalation or toxic fumes. We know your pets are family too.

Low relative humidity combined with dry fuels like grass and brush create a recipe for high fire conditions. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 46 million residences in 70,000 communities are at risk for these types of fires. Help protect your home by using stones, rocks, or even sand to decorate your yard.

A part of Prevention 365 is keeping your home free of hazards that may cause falls. Something as simple as moving electrical cords or taping rugs to the floor can make all the difference in the world. Need help identifying other injury hazards? Email [email protected] or call 678.518.4850.

Whether you’re stuck in the house or constantly on the go, eating healthy can be challenging. Improving your food choices can be made by planning the meals you’re going to eat. Take a look at these suggestions: http://bit.ly/Planning_Meals.

There’s a direct connection between cholesterol and strokes. Learn the difference between a mini stroke and a stroke by visiting http://bit.ly/Mini_Stroke.

After spending more than five years in the fire service in Palm Bay, Florida, Wayne Lumpkin decided to bring his talents to Gwinnett. Now, 14 years later, Lieutenant Lumpkin gets to help recruits find their niche. Watching recruits with no experience of any kind in this field grow is what I enjoy most about working at the Training Academy. They have to grow intellectually and physically in order to do this job. While experiencing that growth, they must learn how to take that... and work as a team. They are forging lifelong relationships during that process. It’s great to see! Although many feel that they bring a servant’s attitude with them to recruit school, Lieutenant Lumpkin acknowledges that it’s only a start. Our academy is tough and fast-paced, so the students need to prioritize! They may have to sacrifice doing things on a social level on the weekends and put their noses in the books. As instructors, we’ll give them every single tool needed to succeed but it still requires effort on their part. There’s so much more to being an instructor than what we know or realize, Lieu. Thank you for working with our recruits! See more

Power outages increase significantly during severe weather. Portable generators are great temporary solutions but never lose sight of important generator safety tips like never using one in an attached garage. See more tips here: http://bit.ly/Generator_Tips

Tropical storms like Zeta remind us of why it's so important to be prepared and stay informed during severe weather! Whether charging your tech or making a family emergency plan, see ways to be prepared here: http://www.gwinnettsafety411.com.

Help slow the spread of Covid-19 by washing your hands before and after eating, after handling your mask, and after using the restroom to name a few. To learn more best practices, visit http://bit.ly/Hand_washing.

Now that you have an extra hour of sleep, make sure to check the batteries in your smoke alarms. http://bit.ly/Change_Batteries

Firefighters battled an overnight vacant house fire in the 5500 block of Cumming Highway NE in Buford. The cause of the fire is under investigation and no injuries were reported. More information on the incident can be found here: http://bit.ly/VacantBufordHomeFire.

Kids are twice as likely to be fatally injured by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Ensure your family’s safety by following these tips: Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again when crossing, remain alert while crossing, and always walk on sidewalks or paths while trick-or-treating! For more tips, visit http://gcga.us/cdchalloween.

Today is the last day to vote in person before Election Day. For a sample ballot, visit http://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. To learn about advance voting locations and hours of operation, visit http://gcga.us/advancevotinglocations. Hoy es el último día para votar en persona antes del Día de las Elecciones. Para ver una boleta de muestra, visite http://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. Para conocer las ubicaciones y los horarios de operación, visite http://gcga.us/advancevotinglocations.

One thing that cannot be taught is heart and Firefighter III Melvin Middlebrooks has plenty of it! He is six months shy of celebrating his ninth year with the department, but just 4 years ago he experienced a horrific motorcycle accident while on his way to work. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for this 13-year Navy corpsman to get back to saving lives. I love what I do! Firefighting, camaraderie, and engaging with the public, especially kids, is what I enjoy. Th...e longer I’m here, the more I realize how much responsibility and authority comes with this job. Lives are at stake and people look to us for help. Melvin plans to obtain a paramedic certification and finish college. He is the first one in the door when we run calls and a tremendous success story of staying the course and believing in yourself. Melvin, thank you for your inspiration! See more

A Buford couple was killed when a tree fell on their home Thursday during extreme wind gusts from the aftermath of Tropical Storm Zeta. Find out more at http://bit.ly/FatalTreeIncident.