SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - It's a day steeped in tradition, remembrance, and celebration. The 33rd annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial and the Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony happened on the same day. 

Hundreds of firefighters started their day at the firefighter memorial at the Illinois State Capitol to remember the life of fallen Chicago Fire Captain David Meyer. 

After the memorial, the group made its way to the BOS Center for the awards ceremony. The Springfield Fire Department was recognized for multiple lifesaving responses in 2025. 

“I'm honored on their behalf, and it's just a testament to the amount of training and the hard work and just the quality of the individuals, the men and women that we have on this department," said Springfield Fire Chief Nick Zummo. "Springfield should be proud." 

SFD Captain Joshua Mifflin was recognized for persistently encouraging a citizen to seek medical care after being exposed to toxic gases. While the man was in the ambulance travelling to the hospital, his condition worsened, and he was given emergency medication. Without his encouragement and advocacy at the hospital, SFD staff worried the man would have suffered more intense injuries. Mifflin was given a Certificate of Recognition. 

Springfield Firefighter Austin Muench was recognized for diving into Lake Springfield without hesitation to save a person who was drowning. After pulling the individual from the lake, Muench provided emergency medical care. He received the Firefighter Excellence Award. 

The following individuals with the Springfield Fire Department were given the Firefighter Excellence Unit citation Award for saving multiple people during a fire at Sangamon Towers in July, 2025. They also protected evidence of arson inside the building: 

  • Captain Jason English
  • Driver/Engineer Mike Joyner
  • Driver/Engineer Tyler Sitko
  • Firefighter Jacob Crowley
  • Firefighter Andre Curtis
  • Firefighter Pat English
  • Firefighter Talon Kellum
  • Firefighter Amanda Laager
  • Firefighter Chris Macomber

“Behind every award today, there is a story, and with each of these stories, they highlight the moments when someone was called upon to act," said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. "In those moments, our honorees didn't stop to think about recognition. They didn't ask whether they were ready to go. They simply stepped forward."

The Springfield Fire Department was one of 17 departments in the state recognized at the ceremony. 

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