DeKalb firefighter can get job back after fatal Dunwoody fire

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

One of the DeKalb County firefighters fired after a deadly January house fire has a chance to get his job back, a DeKalb County spokeswoman said.

A hearing officer has reinstated Capt. Tony Motes, who appealed his firing at a hearing in March, county spokeswoman Sheila Edwards said.

The decision can be appealed, Edwards told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Motes and four other firefighters were terminated for their handling of a call that left 74-year-old Ann Bartlett dead.

Bartlett died when a fire swept through her home in the 1600 block of Houghton Court.

Firefighters responded to her early morning emergency call and left when they couldn't find a blaze.

Five hours and a second 911 call later, firefighters returned to find Bartlett’s house fully engulfed in flames.

Her body was found in the home’s remains after the fire was extinguished.

Besides Motes, acting officer William J. Greene, and Battalion Chiefs Lesley Clark and Bennie J. Paige and Capt. Sell Caldwell were fired for “neglect of duty” following an investigation into response time in the Jan. 24 fire.

Firefighters Greene and Caldwell have appeals pending.

Motes said he hoping to finish out his time with the department and retire in May.