Governor honors state's firefighters

ATLANTA - Georgia firefighters were honored at the state Capitol Tuesday and Gainesville's Jon Canada and Hall County's David Kimbrell had high-profile parts in the Firefighter Recognition Day ceremony because of the new governor's close ties to the community.

Kimbrell presented Gov. Nathan Deal - a longtime resident of Hall County - a Hall County fire helmet, representative of the state's firefighters.

"It was a special day for Gainesville and Hall County firefighters," Chief Canada told the Gainesville City Council Tuesday night. "We had a number one put on the governor's helmet and a number two on the Lt. Governor's helmet and it says 'Hall County' on the front of it."

Kimbrell is president of the state Fire Chiefs Association.

Chief Canada was also sworn in by Gov. Deal as a member of the state Board of Public Safety.