'Give An Hour' to Salute Fire Station 19

Tucker Civic Association has sponsored a monthly "Give An Hour" (GAH) project since March 2009, and for March 2012 the GAH project asks residents to bring donations of food staples to the men and women of Fire Station 19, 3253 Mercer University Drive, on Sunday, March 11, at 3 p.m. 

Fire Station 19 is one of two stations in DeKalb County with hazmat (hazardous materials) units, and some years back was ranked by Firehouse Magazine as the busiest hazmat station in America. Running three shifts a day, Station 19, now in its 37th year of service, is home to three companies of about 13 firefighters each, and every man and woman is a certified hazmat technician. 

They have been trained to deal with natural gas leaks, overturned gasoline and diesel tankers, and other spills of hazardous chemicals. The unit has responded to some memorable incidents, including an overturned tanker at Buford Highway and I-285 in 2004 (the longest shutdown of I-285 in Atlanta history) and the burning of a Gwinnett transit bus under Spaghetti Junction in 2006. 

Although these men and women work 24-hour shifts, the county does not offer a food budget at the station, so donations of food staples is welcome - everything from coffee, bacon, eggs and bread to fruits, vegetables, crackers and cookies.     

TCA's February "Give An Hour" involved co-sponsoring a spaghetti luncheon at First Baptist Church in honor of the state champion football team. Donations raised at the luncheon will help players, coaches and other team members purchase championship rings - something the school system does not fund.