Winter 2026

Lights and Sirens

A busy winter season: Responding when it matters most
The winter season is one of our busiest times of the year. Colder temperatures, increased heating use, holiday activities, and more time spent indoors all contribute to a higher risk of fires and medical emergencies during the winter months.


Over the past several weeks, our crews have responded to multiple serious fire incidents across the county, each one reinforcing how quickly conditions can change and how critical preparation and early action can be. Tragically, one of these fires claimed a life in Snellville. On Christmas Day an apartment fire in Duluth displaced 13 residents. The fire started on a second-floor balcony while food was being cooked. In Norcross, a major blaze displaced 40 residents prompting Gwinnett’s Office of Emergency Management and Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church to work together and provide support to those affected. The importance of early detection was highlighted during an apartment fire in Buford that displaced 19 people. After hearing a smoke alarm a resident helped to alert others who made it out safely. They have received assistance from the American Red Cross and apartment management.


Our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones affected by these incidents. While every fire scene is different, tragedies like this remind us of the unpredictable nature of fire and the importance of continued communitywide awareness and prevention efforts.

Serving more than a million: How medical guidance and training strengthens Gwinnett

Every minute, somewhere in Gwinnett County, someone needs help — a medical emergency, a moment of crisis, or a call that can change a life forever.

Behind every one of those moments is a system guided by medical expertise, continuous training, and preparation long before the first siren ever sounds. Serving a county as large, diverse, and fast-growing as Gwinnett requires more than fast response times. It requires constant medical guidance, evolving protocols, and training that keeps pace with a changing community.

At Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services, that guidance is led by our medical directors, who help shape how we deliver care in the field every day. In the video below, they discuss how medical leadership, training, and prevention work together to protect one of Georgia’s largest and most dynamic communities.

Prevention 365

Ready in the cold: Crews deliver critical care through winter’s toughest conditions

During these colder months, we’re seeing an increase in winter-related medical calls, including accidental falls, breathing difficulties, and cardiac emergencies. No matter the conditions, our teams continue to respond with skill, speed, and compassion.


Here are essential steps to stay safe and to help us reach you faster:

• Clear your driveway and walkways: Make sure emergency crews have easy access to your home
• Keep your house number visible: Help us find your location quickly
• Use battery lighting: Have flashlights and batteries for outages
  

For more winter safety tips, visit GwinnettSafety411.com.

Heat your home safely

Did you know that home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, deaths, and injuries in the United States? 


December, January, and February are the peak months for heating fires. As we rely on our furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters to keep warm, it’s critical to prioritize safety. Follow these tips to keep your loved ones safe this winter:


• Keep children and pets a safe distance away from heat sources.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys professionally cleaned and inspected annually.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room
• Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
  

Take a few minutes to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace any batteries that are more than a year old. Smoke alarms with a 10-year, non-replaceable battery must be replaced when they chirp. Smoke alarms with replaceable batteries need a new battery at least once a year and whenever they chirp. Always follow the manufacturers recommendations.

Neighbors in Red

Gwinnett Fire welcomes its newest paramedics

We proudly recognized our newest paramedics during a graduation ceremony held on December 9, 2025, at the Gwinnett Fire Training Academy.

Graduates from Paramedic Class 2024-01 and Paramedic Class 2025-01 were honored for completing one of the most rigorous career pathways in emergency medical services. Through extensive classroom instruction, hands-on clinical training, and real-world emergency response experience, these graduates are now prepared to provide advanced, life-saving care to the residents of Gwinnett.

Honoring Achievement: Celebrating graduates and advancing leaders

Congratulations to our newest recruits and promotees! We recently held our 2025-01 graduation and promotional ceremony, honoring both new recruits entering the field and members advancing into leadership roles.

For graduates, it signaled the beginning of a career rooted in service; for those promoted, it marked new responsibilities and leadership opportunities. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and helping ensure the highest level of service for the community we proudly serve.

Courage has no uniform
The Meritorious Award and Meritorious Civilian Award were presented to Driver/Engineer Matthew Long and civilian Lacey Pruitt for their decisive actions during a youth medical emergency on August 25, 2025, at Duncan Creek Park.

When a 10U football player collapsed during warm-ups, Long and Pruitt quickly assessed the child and initiated CPR after no pulse was detected. Their immediate response restored circulation within seconds. While awaiting responding units, Ms. Pruitt continued assisting with cooling measures and patient care, following instructions precisely. Their swift decision-making were instrumental in saving the child’s life. 

Stepping forward without hesitation

Valor Award recipients Firemedic Senior Travis Button and Firefighter III Isaac Smith were recognized for their bravery during a violent incident at Northside Gwinnett Hospital on October 15, 2024.

While assigned to Med 4, Travis and Isaac witnessed an unprovoked attack on a Lawrenceville police officer. When the attacker resisted being restrained and attempted to take the officer’s firearm, both immediately stepped in to help stop the threat.


Their actions helped prevent a potentially deadly situation from escalating and protected countless people in the area. Though not required to intervene, they acted without hesitation to keep others safe. This act of courage reflects the highest values of the fire service: true valor and dedication to protecting others.