A convoy carried a six-year veteran firefighter from a Newnan cancer treatment center to his Forsyth County home Wednesday afternoon.

“We are losing a dear member of our family very soon,” Atlanta fire spokeswoman Janet Ward said.

Feb. 14, 2012 Atlanta : Atlanta firefighters Frank Martinez and Chris Moss (right) of Squad 4 roll up hose after battling a blaze Tuesday. Atlanta firefighters made a quick knock down on a house fire at 1750 Madrona Street in Atlanta Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012. Two occupants of the house were already evacuated when crews arrived on the call that came in at 10:09 AM according to battalion chief, Raymond Bearden. The bulk of the fire was in the basement where after crews checked for extensions throughout the house and made complete searches. There were no exposure problems to the adjacent neighboring homes. No one was hurt and the fire is under investigation..  John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

Credit: John Spink

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Credit: John Spink

Frank Martinez worked with the Atlanta Fire Department’s Squad 4, which is the technical rescue unit based on Edgewood Avenue. After battling cancer for several years, the 45-year-old father of two made the decision to receive hospice care at home.

Several fire stations throughout Atlanta and DeKalb County radioed in Wednesday to give tributes to Martinez as he passed through the downtown area about 2:30 p.m.

Radio tributes for firefighter Frank Martinez. Video by John Spink/AJC

“Frank’s last wish was to see the new Squad 4 apparatus, which was put into service just a few weeks ago,” Ward said.

Mike Brooks has been a friend of Martinez’s for more than 10 years, he told Channel 2 Action News.

“We’re going to miss him,” Brooks said. “But we’re here to celebrate his life and to give him the send-off he deserves. He’s a fireman’s fireman; the best you’re going to ever meet.”

A photo of Frank Martinez (left) and another firefighter during rope training in 2010. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
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