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Decatur names new deputy fire chief

Decatur may likely be the nation’s only fire department where women fill the top three positions. From L-R: Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Ninetta Violante, Fire Chief Toni Washington, and second-in-command, Deputy Fire Chief Vera Morrison, who starts work Tuesday. Bill Banks for the AJC.
Decatur may likely be the nation’s only fire department where women fill the top three positions. From L-R: Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Ninetta Violante, Fire Chief Toni Washington, and second-in-command, Deputy Fire Chief Vera Morrison, who starts work Tuesday. Bill Banks for the AJC.
By Bill Banks
June 6, 2017

During Monday night’s city commission meeting Decatur announced DeKalb County veteran Vera Morrison as its new Deputy Fire Chief. Morrison who spent 15 years with the county, most recently as battalion chief, starts work today.

She replaces Stephanie Harpring who left in March and is now fire marshal for Thornton, Colorado.

Morrison steadily worked her way up the ladder in DeKalb from EMT to firefighter, driver, captain and finally battalion chief in 2013.

“I set a standard for myself to learn every discipline,” she said Monday night.

Decatur may likely be the nation’s only fire department where women fill the top three positions: Fire Chief Toni Washington, second-in-command Morrison, and Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Ninetta Violante.

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