COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Engineer David Tysdal has retired from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department after 24 years of service, with his final day on January 31, 2026.
Tysdal’s retirement comes as injuries sustained while serving the community require ongoing medical treatment and recovery.
He joined the department in 2002 when the private EMS system ended and officials built a new fire-based EMS system in Kootenai County.
Tysdal became a cornerstone of specialized rescue operations. He served as a founding member of the Idaho Disaster Dogs search team, working as a K-9 handler for two dogs, Bailey and Maya. He also drove the creation of the Idaho Technical Rescue Team in Region 1, serving as an instructor in building collapse, confined space and trench rescue, and high angle rope rescue.
The veteran engineer played a crucial role in modernizing department equipment. As a member of the apparatus committee, he helped place new fire apparatus into service and trained personnel. He also prepared the department’s fireboat for service and created marine firefighting training programs.
Tysdal mentored nearly every engineer who has operated fire apparatus in the department over the past 15 to 20 years.
The department honored him as Employee of the Year in 2016. Most recently, he received a nomination for the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during an attack on Canfield Mountain.
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