By Malynda Fulton

The Valdosta Daily Times



VALDOSTA — Lt. Dean Cone served his last day as a firefighter with the Valdosta Fire Department Friday, May 29, after 30 years of service. Looking back over the years, Cone reflected on several experiences he faced as a firefighter, the things he will miss most and his biggest inspiration for becoming a firefighter — his father.

Dean Cone was raised in Valdosta by his parents, the late Curtis J. Cone and Blanche Hogan. However, he practically grew up at the Valdosta Fire Department. His father served as assistant fire chief for some decades.

Cone spent so much time at the fire stations during his childhood, he would help firefighters when they responded to different calls.

“I wasn’t really supposed to,” Cone said. “However, I did go out on calls with my dad and help the men load hoses. It made me feel like I was doing a big job.”

Cone remembers being “drawn to all the people” who worked at the fire stations.

“I had a bunch of daddies,” he said.

Cone attended Valdosta City Schools and graduated from Valdosta High School. He decided to become a firefighter in January 1979 at age 23.

When asked what influenced his decision to follow in his father’s footsteps, Cone replied, “I observed my father’s dedication to the job and it had been a good living for him. And like every other child, when I was little I wanted to be a fireman.”

Unlike the formal training the firefighters receive now, Cone said that firefighters mostly went through on-the-job training when he started.

“We had several drills a day and inside classes.”

The training he received, as well as the experience he gained from going out on calls with his father, helped him swing into action easily during his first-ever call.“The first fire I ever responded to was on a street that doesn’t exist anymore called Branch Street Lane,” Cone said. “Back then we rode on the back of the trucks instead of inside them. That night I was the only one on the back of the truck. The driver and I responded to the fire and I extinguished it successfully. It felt good to know that the boss was comfortable enough to send me out on a call like that by myself.”

Cone was promoted to driver in 1982. He became a lieutenant in the early 1990s. Cone was also one of the first EMTs and paramedics at South Georgia Medical Center, and was on the original Hazmat team in Valdosta.

In addition, Cone served as an instructor at the Georgia Fire Academy and taught CPR and first responder classes.

Cone has had several scary experiences as a firefighter. He recalls one at local business that was named Union Camp.

“When we arrived on the scene, the fire was so big, it was going across the road,” Cone said. “People were running out and saying the place was going to explode.”

Cone said he was particularly weary of the fire because his father had gotten severely burned at the same place years earlier.

“Fortunately, we were able to cool it down and prevent it from exploding, but the experience was quite frightening.”

Cone has never had a near-death experience as a firefighter. He said he always felt like he knew what to do to get himself out of each circumstance he faced.

“I have been in some very hairy situations, but none that I felt I could not make it out of.”

He admits that the hardest part his job was dealing with the loss of a life.

“I know that people will die, but the toughest deaths I faced were those of children or young people. I have responded to fires where I have seen children burned and killed. You never really get over those.”

Considering Cone rode on the rescue/extrication truck for many years during his career, he commonly dealt with death on the job.

“I have seen more death than I want to see.”

Nonetheless, he admits that he has seen several good things.

“I delivered a few babies while riding on the rescue truck,” Cone said. “Helping someone bring a life into the world was a precious experience.”

Although life as a firefighter had its share of fright, Cone feels he has had some of his funniest times at the fire department.

“On our off time, we were always playing pranks on each other and joking with fellow firefighters.”

One of the funniest calls that Cone ever responded to was when he was dispatched to a bomb threat in downtown Valdosta.

“We received a call of a bomb threat, so we rush downtown and set up,” he said. “After a few minutes, the person who called the threat in came up to us and said that there was not a bomb threat. A vagrant, who the person referred to as a “bum” was threatening them.”

Cone reflected on several other funny moments, such as him responding to Toombs Street after a reported fight was mistaken for a fire.

“Firefighters have to have a little humor because of all the emotions and stress that go along with the job.”

Cone has accomplished several feats during his tenure with the Valdosta Fire Department. About 10 years ago, he resuscitated a fire captain who had gone into cardiac arrest on the job. He was also named Valdosta’s Fire Officer of the Year in 2003.

Cone’s most recent accomplishment was serving as lead staff member during the area Honor Flight mission, which included three flights from Valdosta and paid tribute to the remaining World War II veterans.

“I set up the medical staff and worked with several first responders,” he said. “Flying with the veterans was probably the most appreciative feeling I have had because they were real heroes.”

At age 53, one may ask why Cone has decided to retire now.

“Well aside from medical problems, I just feel like it’s time to pass the torch on,” Cone said. “I tried to help lay a good foundation for the other guys, as my father did me. I hope that others will say I was fair and willing to help young firefighters be aggressive and ensure people were safe.”

Cone said that he will miss helping others, and the comraderie and friendship with fellow firefighters most. The fire department also reminds him of the close bond he and his father, who passed away in 2005, shared.

“It feels good to know that there was a Cone at the Valdosta Fire Department more than 59 years collectively. This has been a good career. I will miss it, but life goes on.”

Cone plans to continue to work as a paramedic/EMT with SGMC part-time. In his spare time, he plans to catch up on fishing and spending time with his family.

Cone has been married to his wife, Lynne, for 28 years. The couple shares two sons, Justin and Jacob Cone. They also have a 6-year-old grandson named Hagan and a 2-year-old granddaughter named Haley. Cone and his wife reside in Hahira.