DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Earlier week, DeKalb County Master Firefighter Preston Fant was killed in the line of duty while trying to rescue a colleague.
Fant, a 21-year veteran of the department, will be laid to rest next week with a service at Truist Park.
He is the first firefighter to die in the line of duty in the department’s history.
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He leaves behind a wife, five children and one grandchild.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help support his loved ones. It has already raised more than $54,000.
On Wednesday, firefighters and police officers escorted Fant’s body from Fire Station 24 on Redan Road to the West Cobb Funeral Home in Marietta on Macland Road.
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Fant loved “hunting, fishing, watching the Atlanta Braves, repairing cars, building and fixing houses, hanging out with friends, and gathering for bonfires with family.”
Earlier this week, his sister-in-law spoke to Channel 2’s Michael Doudna.
“He gave his life doing what he loved, but he loved his family so much,” said Paige Castillo.
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