Lang
8/21/25
The City of Iowa City didn’t have to look far to find its new fire marshal.
Lt. Axel Swanson was announced as the new fire marshall on Thursday, replacing the retiring Troy Roth.
Swanson was originally hired by the Iowa City Fire Department on Jan. 2, 2001. He was promoted to Lieutenant on Aug. 30, 2011. Swanson is a Credentialed Fire Officer and his past duties have included code inspector, fire investigator, child seat technician, and Hazmat technician.
As fire marshal, Swanson’s primary focus will be community risk reduction. Duties of the fire marshal’s office include:
- Fire investigation
- Ensuring all commercial buildings are in compliance with the International Fire Code
- Inspecting construction sites to ensure compliance with approved plans, and
- Coordinating commercial inspection efforts
The most important duties involve public education, including Fire Prevention Week programs, Fire Safety Trailer events, assisting the community’s older adults with smoke alarms, and engaging with community groups through fire safety talks.