At its May meeting, the Fairfield Fire Commission presented a chief’s award to Lieutenant Jeffrey Edmonson and formally recognized three civilians for life‑saving actions during a Jan. 3 basketball game.

The commission recognized Lieutenant Jeffrey Edmonson for his work as a deputy fire marshal, including preparing his successor and maintaining fire‑prevention operations. Chief Case read the citation praising Edmonson’s leadership and “unwavering dedication to the safety and well‑being of our community.” The chief noted Edmonson joined the fire marshal’s office about eight and a half years ago and has been “instrumental in keeping the fire marshal’s office moving smoothly.” Edmonson has expressed a desire to return to front‑line firefighting once his successor is in place.

The commission also honored three civilians — Henry Peterson (athletic trainer), Diane Polson Mueller (pediatric emergency department physician assistant), and Maureen Kavanaugh (parent and former lifeguard) — for helping revive John Quai, a Vietnam veteran, who collapsed at a Fairfield high school game on Jan. 3, 2025. According to the department’s account, the civilians started CPR, applied an automated external defibrillator and delivered one shock before emergency responders arrived. A presenter for the department summarized the event and noted that the out‑of‑hospital survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest is less than 10 percent and credited the chain of survival for the positive outcome.

“30 seconds to a minute, and I was back,” John Quai said at the meeting, describing his memory of the incident.

The commission presented plaques and invited the honorees and Quai to pose for photographs in front of a department banner. Commissioners and staff said the ceremony underlined the importance of training, timely bystander response and cooperation among first responders, school staff and the public.

The department said it will continue to recognize similar life‑saving incidents when they occur.