Eden Prairie honors firefighters who rescued infant

Four firefighters who rescued an infant from the second floor of a burning home have been given the Eden Prairie Fire Department’s highest honor.

“Award of Honor” medals were presented Nov. 12 to Assistant Chief Justin Johnson, Capt. Matt Worthington, and firefighters Michael Do and Joshua Privette for their bravery and skill during a May 31 fire that engulfed a townhome on the 8500 block of Cardiff Lane. The neighborhood is located behind the Park Nicollet Clinic at Flying Cloud Drive and Medcom Boulevard.

At the time of the call, Johnson had served with the Eden Prairie Fire Department for 14 years; Worthington, for 11 years; Privette, for nearly two years; and Do, for 11 months.

On the morning of May 31, they were among emergency responders dispatched to a townhome engulfed in flames. As firefighters began to extinguish the fire, conflicting information from bystanders and 911 callers suggested people might still be inside, according to Fire Chief Scott Gerber.

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Johnson took Worthington, Privette, and Do to another side of the house, where they broke down a large door to gain entry to the first floor without a hose line for protection. Using a thermal imaging camera, they found no one there and proceeded to the second floor, where they encountered high heat and low visibility. Inside a bedroom, they found an infant in a playpen. They escaped the home unharmed and handed the child to Hennepin EMS paramedics, who raced to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.

“The child trapped inside this home survived,” said Gerber, “and continues to flourish today, because of the brave and heroic actions of Capt. Worthington, firefighter Privette, firefighter Do, and Chief Johnson.”

About an hour after the fire rescue, Johnson and his crew gathered at the scene for a debriefing. “While we were talking,” he recalled, “one of our police lieutenants approached us and said something I will always remember clearly: ‘Did you guys hear that? The baby is doing fine.’ 

“The dedication and courage shown by everyone involved in that circumstance left an indelible mark on my heart,” Johnson added. “It truly was a day of heroism and teamwork that I will always remember.”

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But during the rescue, it didn’t feel as if they were doing anything extraordinary, said Johnson. They were just trying to stay “laser-focused” and respond effectively.

Now, looking back: “I couldn’t be prouder of our whole team – not just those on the front lines of the rescue, but everyone who played a crucial part in achieving a positive outcome that day,” he said. “Our dedicated police officers, dispatchers, firefighters, and Hennepin EMS all came together seamlessly. 

“It’s rare for firefighters to directly rescue known victims from a structure with heavy fire, and reflecting on that day, it truly amazes me how everyone stepped into what was a chaotic scene, remained composed, and executed their roles with such determination and focus,” Johnson stated. “This remarkable level of professionalism is exactly what you can expect from Eden Prairie’s emergency responders, who are committed each and every day to delivering quality service to our community.”