Four Eden Prairie firefighters were honored Thursday as “Hometown Heroes” for a May 31, 2024 response that resulted in the rescue of an infant from a burning townhome.
Assistant Fire Chiefs Justin Johnson and Matt Worthington, along with firefighters Joshua Privette and Michael Doe, responded to the early morning call on Cardiff Lane with limited information from dispatch. Responders did not know whether anyone remained inside the smoke-filled home, but the crew entered anyway.
Entering the home through a door on the first floor without a hose line to protect them, the firefighters began searching the residence. Firefighter Privette located an infant in a playpen in a back bedroom and carried her to safety. Because of the firefighters’ actions, the child survived and is alive and well today.
Following the rescue, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota prosecuted the individual responsible for setting the fire. That man, 23-year-old Abdirahman Abdullahi was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison last month.
Now, two years later, the four firefighters have been recognized for the split-second decisions that saved the infant’s life. Each firefigher received a Hometown Hero Award from Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen as part of the Justice Department’s Freedom 250 initiative.
”This is what public service in America looks like,” Rosen said Thursday. “Not a title, not a press release. It’s a decision made in a few seconds. With everything on the line, by people who show up to work every day, not knowing what the day ahead will ask of them.”
With the 250th anniversary of Independence Day approaching, the U.S. Justice Department began a national campaign called Freedom 250 that seeks to honor Americans who embody the founding principles of the United States.
“As we mark our 250 years since founding, we remind ourselves of what this nation was built on,” Rosen said. “Liberty, service, responsibility to our fellow citizens.”
During the recognition ceremony, Rosen presented each firefighter with a commemorative plaque honoring their actions and recognizing the courage displayed during the rescue. The ceremony was attended by firefighters, law enforcement officers, and city officials.
Eden Prairie Fire Chief Scott Gerber said the rescue reflected not only the bravery of the four firefighters but also the close coordination among the city’s emergency responders.
“We have great collaboration in our city, and the ability to be able to connect between our police department, our fire department, our dispatch center, is something that is of great importance to us in this city,” Gerber said.
“That day, what they were able to do to rescue that child wouldn’t have happened without the great work of our police department, things they were doing on the outside, as well as other crew members,” Gerber added.
Rachael Van Rossum
Rachael Van Rossum is a journalist and author who studies political science in the Twin Cities. She previously interned with the Illinois House of Representatives and recently published her debut fantasy novel "The Hellburner of Sovi." Rachael is passionate about telling compelling stories and bringing to life the voices of political figures, athletes, and members of her community through engaging writing. She is the Alpha News journalism fellow for the summer of 2026.
