A federal review off a 2025 warehouse fire in DeKalb County found that a raft of problems, ranging from a lack of sprinklers to questionable tactics and task saturation, contributed to the death of a firefighter.
NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program examined the September 8, 2025, line-of-duty death of a DeKalb County Fire Rescue Master Firefighter Preston Fant, 53.
The incident began as a reported business fire at a warehouse. The first in crew encountered heavy smoke from the eaves and made an offensive interior attack. The fire, initially ventilation-limited, exploded when crews began cutting garage doors for ventilation before a sustainable water supply was established…