Before a full-time, paid fire department existed in Gwinnett County, each county district had its own fire plan and protection. In 1967 seven lives were lost in the Norcross area of the county due to fires. This prompted the County Commissioners to offer districts a countywide fire protection plan. A countywide referendum was held in 1970 and failed by a four-to-one margin except in the Pinckneyville District. Commissioners made another effort to consolidate fire protection by mandating that if one district wanted fire protection by the county, individual districts could vote it in. In 1970, the Pinckneyville District was the first area to pass a vote in favor of county fire protection and, thus, the beginning of the Gwinnett County Fire Department.

On March 30, 1971 at 10:15 a.m. the Gwinnett County Fire Department responded to its first alarm. Under contract with the City of Norcross, the new department had 10 firefighters, one engine and a budget of $89,000. Over the next 10 years, the county fire department's protection was so well received by Gwinnett citizens and businesses alike that other cities/districts voted to be included in the county fire department coverage. Thirty years later, the department, now known as the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, is the largest fire service district in the State of Georgia for the number of legal jurisdictions (15) under one fire department and covers an area of 437 square miles.