Chief Davis and Majid Sarmadi lay a wreath on Ladder 1On January 19, 2017, a fire broke out on the ninth floor of the historic Plasco Trade Center in Iran’s capital of Tehran. The blaze, considered the worst in Tehran since 2005, culminated in a building collapse that altogether claimed the lives of 16 Iranian firefighters and injured 235 people.
 
This week, Madison’s Iranian community came together to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, express sympathy to their surviving families, and to thank the members of the Madison Fire Department for their continued service and acts of bravery.
 
“We are lucky to have such excellent firefighters in Wisconsin,” said Majid Sarmadi, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a member of the local Iranian community. “Thank you, Chief Davis, and all firefighters, wherever you are.”
 
These sentiments were shared at an emotional ceremony outside the City-County Building. A wreath of flowers was laid upon Ladder 1 just before Chief Davis and members of the Madison Fire Department hosted a Bell Ceremony, a fire service tradition which honors firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
 
Later that evening, the Madison Common Council unanimously passed an honoring resolution paying tribute to the 16 Iranian firefighters who lost their lives last month, and recognizing the Madison Fire Department.

See more photos from the ceremony and Common Council meeting.

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Category: General