The Davenport City Council on Oct. 22 recognized members of the Davenport Fire Department for rescuing three people from a structure fire on Sept. 11, 2025.

Fire Marshal Morris said the department was dispatched at 4:26 a.m. to a split-level house on the 2400 block of North Zenith and that first crews found heavy fire on the upper floor and three people trapped by fire and smoke. "Engine 6 advanced a hose line into the house for the fire attack," Morris said, and firefighters searched inside, locating and carrying the trapped occupants outside where they received medical care and were transported to Genesis East and later to the University of Iowa for advanced treatment.

The awards ceremony honored crews and individuals across multiple companies. Fire Marshal Morris called District Chief Scott Farnsworth and District Chief James Woods forward for distinguished service awards. Lieutenants and firefighters from engines 5, 6 and 7 and trucks 2 and 3 received distinguished service awards; firefighter Dante Tremble (listed in the record as Dante Trimmel) was presented with a medal of honor for locating several victims and assisting their removal from immediate danger, a citation Morris said directly resulted in saving lives.

Mayor Matson praised the department’s response and invited Chief Carlson and Fire Marshal Morris to the podium for the recognitions. Chief Carlson, who the council recognized at the meeting as departing after long service, thanked council members, city staff and the firefighters for their teamwork and said the department’s daily work and training made the rescue possible.

Why it matters: The council said the awards underscore the role of first responders in public safety and gave council members an occasion to highlight interagency coordination; the fire response involved Davenport Fire Department units, Medic EMS and the Davenport Police Department, according to remarks at the meeting.

The ceremony concluded with group photographs and congratulations. No formal council vote on the awards was recorded during the meeting; the recognitions were presented as a ceremonial acknowledgement by the mayor and council.