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Kristie Johnson becomes first female fire officer
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Kristie Johnson has been promoted to lieutenant with the DeKalb County Fire Department, becoming the first woman to become an officer with the agency since its inception in 1975. She is presented her bars by Chief Donny Green. - photo by Duane Sherrill

Kristie Johnson has been promoted to lieutenant with the DeKalb County Fire Department becoming the first woman ever to serve as an officer in the squad.

“I’ve been with the department since 2011,” she said after her promotion was announced and heralded by a standing ovation by the county commission this past week. “I’ve enjoyed my time with the department.”

With her promotion, she is no longer outranked by her husband, Lt. Dusty Johnson who has been serving with the department a bit longer. “He didn’t outranked me before that,” she joked on now having two lieutenants in the house.

Her promotion was announced to the county commission by County Fire Chief Donny Green who praised her hard work with the volunteer fire department. “We are proud to have Kristie as a member of our leadership,” he said, noting she is the first female officer in the history of the fire department that began in 1975.