Coeur d'Alene Fire remembers 2025 at awards banquet

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department’s current and retired members and their families came together recently for their annual awards banquet

"This year’s banquet was heavy with the lingering absence of our lost brother, Battalion Chief John Morrison," a press release said. 

Morrison’s wife, Jill, attended to see her husband’s crew and the rest of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department honored for their professionalism and courage during fatal shooting June 29 at Canfield Mountain. 

The ambush took the lives of Morrison and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue's Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and left Coeur d'Alene Firefighter/Engineer Dave Tysdal seriously injured. 

Morrison was posthumously awarded the CDAFD Medal of Honor for his sacrifice to our community, which Jill Morrison accepted on his behalf.

Interim Police Chief Dave Hagar and city of CDA Streets Department members Todd Feusier and Bandon Lopez were honored for their efforts to process and repair emergency vehicles that had to be left on Canfield Mountain during the event and got them back on the streets.

Tysdal presented Union Awards to Brothers Bill Dodd, Matt Glenn, Andy Goodsell and Retired Brother Matt Smith for their assistance to him and his family as he continues to recover from his injuries.

The CDA Firefighters Local 710 also presented Union Awards to Pipe Major Jessica Bryant and Honor Guard Commander Joshua Hoston for their efforts in organizing the incredible massed band from all over our nation and the national honor guard contingent that came to our community to honor our fallen as tradition demands. 

They also recognized local business owners Jen and Ben Drake of Crown and Thistle for being a place for members to gather, grieve and heal after the events of June 29. 

Additionally, as we sat in the Hagadone Event Center, Bill Reagan, president of The Coeur d'Alene Resort, was presented with two awards for his efforts to secure and plan the incredible memorial services for John Morrison and Frank Harwood.

"As all-consuming as the events of June 29th were, our crews still put in the work every day, showing up to answer the call as they always do," the release said.

Fire suppression crews were recognized for their heroic actions during three separate structure fires this year that had citizen rescues and/or fatalities.

Personnel were pinned by their family members for promotions earned this past year, and last year’s probationary firefighters were pinned and honored for passing their probationary year of training to be Coeur d'Alene firefighters.

One of the most uplifting awards this year was a Unit Citation to Firefighters Zach Brawley and McLaren, Engineers Hoston, Church and Clark, and Paramedics Kaiser and Bates for their actions which saved a local retired fire captain who suffered a cardiac arrest event while out in our community. Fire Captain John Ward presented that Unit Citation to his saviors.

The year brought a new record with 11,328 calls for service. Eleven members joined the 1,000-call club, having each personally responded to over 1,000 calls for service. For the second year in a row, Firefighter Zach Brawley received the Ironman Award for running the most calls, coming in at 1,272.

There were two Medal of Valor recipients for their incredible and heroic actions on June 29. They were Tysdal and Captain-Paramedic Steve Jones.

Finally, with multiple nominations, Capt. Dylan Clark was honored as Employee of the Year for his efforts in training our new firefighters in their recruit fire academy. 

"Under Dylan’s leadership the fire academy has turned into a premier training opportunity yielding tremendously prepared and professional firefighters as they work to become valued members of our fire department family and this community," the release said.

To all award recipients, thank you for all you do to ensure the safety of the citizens and valued guests of the city of Coeur d’Alene. You are “Driven by perfection and Steered by Knowledge, Tradition and Integrity”… “Just like John wrote it.”

    Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's Capt. Dylan Clark was named Employee of the Year.