Tryon Town Council recognized local police officers and firefighters last week for their attempts at a fatal fire at 950 East Howard Street, Tryon.

Tryon Town Council met Sept. 15 and recognized responders first on scene, Tryon Police Officers Manny Zaragoza and Alan Corn, Columbus officer Nicholas Stott and Tryon firefighters Tank Waters, Johnny Hipp, Marshall Lipscomb and Scotty Gosnell.

“These three men (police officers) in conjunction with the Tryon Fire Department were the first to arrive at 950 East Howard Street,” said Tryon Fire Chief and town manager Joey Davis. “Many attempted to enter the residence. There’s been a lot of stuff said about this department. I’d do business with them any day of the week. I say it all the time; (Tryon Police Chief) Jeff (Arrowood) has a great staff. They deserve some recognition on what they did that night and what they attempted to do that night.”

Tryon commissioner and mayor pro-tem Roy Miller said he echoed Davis. He said he greatly appreciates the gentlemen as he watched the video.

“I’m not going to put my life on the line to enter a burning building,” Miller said, “other than defending my family. I watched Stott with the hose fighting that fire. I watched many go to the door.”

Miller said Waters doing into the house and try to do what he did, recovered a body and put the fire out.

“Unfortunately that’s part of my family that expired that night,” Miller said.

Miller also said Stott came to the vigil and he gained more of Miller’s respect as he didn’t leave the service until they brought the body out and sent him to his final resting place.

“So gentlemen, I thank you,” Miller said. “This community thanks you.”

Commissioner George Baker stood, saying he personally salutes all the men.

The officers and firefighters were recognized for their efforts in an East Howard Street fire on Aug. 29 around 3 a.m. that took the life of 32-year old Trey Miller.

Miller also mentioned during last week’s meeting that October is fire prevention month and the Tryon Fire Department has smoke detectors for free and firefighters will help residents install the detectors in their homes. He encouraged anyone who knows someone who does not have a fire detector to let chief Davis know so the town can take care of them.

Miller also said Tryon residents are lucky to live in a county so unique that they can have Saluda, the sheriff’s office, Landrum, Mill Spring and Columbus departments come for mutual aid.

“We go to sleep, I go to sleep, confident that if anything happens I know within minutes help is coming,” Miller said.

Tryon Mayor Jim Wright said the town suffered a tragedy in that a young man lost his life and from his understanding Trey Miller was an outstanding young man.

Wright said he, Arrowood, Roy Miller and Davis went to express their condolences to the family and later most council members attended an Eastside Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, “that was difficult, to say the least,” Wright said.

Wright said you can’t go through an ordeal like the tragic fire and not be proud of the town’s fire department. Tryon’s department operates on a volunteer status, he said, which means volunteers have to get up , get to the station, get their gear on, start the truck, raise the door and get to the fire.

“It was a great response by those groups,” Wright said. “It’s a tragedy for our town.”