PORT NECHES — Community heroes were honored for their hard work, dedication and life saving efforts by the Port Neches City Council on Thursday.

The first of Thursday’s proclamation’s named Nov. 5 as Firefighter Recognition Day in the city. Mayor Glenn Johnson then spoke of the largest house fire fought in Port Neches and of the valor displayed by the 47 firefighters who battled the blaze.

The fire was located at a home on 415 Kings Row, Mayor Glenn Johnson said, at 6:18 p.m. and upon arrival firefighters saw smoke coming from the attic area.

Johnson led audience members through a play-by-play of the fire fighting and how a team of four firefighters almost didn’t make it out of the house before the structural integrity failed.

Early in the fire, the incident commander, with advice from crew members, responded with a ladder truck in addition to the Automatic Assistance Coverage from Nederland and Groves fire departments and mutual aid from the Port Arthur Fire Department.

Port Neches Fire Chief Steve Curran said the large blaze was difficult to battle and credits the incident commander with getting the four team members out of harm’s way.

“They were within a minute of being crushed,” Curran said.

Groves Fire Chief Dale Jackson agreed with Curran in saying the execution of the plan to fight the fire was done well and no lives were lost.

“They got out,” Jackson said. “Thank God he (incident commander) did. This was an unusual fire and we (Jackson and Curran) concur they’d like to look at an ordinance requiring sprinkler systems for residences on certain sized property.”

The proclamation read on Thursday honors all firefighters, volunteer and paid, who fought the fire.

Two city employees were commended for their attempts to save the life of a drowning man on Oct. 15.

Bryan Klutts and Kevin Richardson were driving down Lee Street toward Port Neches Riverfront Park when they noticed a boat drifting in the river, moving away from the boat ramp. As they approached, they saw a man, later identified as Port Neches resident Harold Moye, struggling in the water attempting to retrieve his boat.

Klutts raced to the water, swam out and attempted to locate and save Moye’s life as Richardson contacted emergency services and later pointed out where Moye’s was last seen.

“Bryan Klutts and Kevin Robinson should be commended for their actions during this incident. Bryan jumped into the Neches River in an attempt to save another human being without regard for his own safety. Bryan did this without hesitation and his efforts went above and beyond the call of duty. The fact that he was unable to save Mr. Moye does not diminish his heroic effort,” Port Neches Police Chief Paul Lemoine said in a letter to city council.

The letter was read aloud by City Manager Andrè Wimer.

Lemoine stated the role of Richardson being equally important within the situation.

“Kevin maintained his composure during a very stressful and fast moving sequence of events and was able to contact first responders without delay,” Wimer read. “Kevin was able to articulate to me (Lemoine) his most accurate location of where he last saw Mr. Moye which in turn enabled the speedy recovery of his body.”

Through a veil of tears, Moye’s widow thanked the two men for their actions.

“I would do it again,” Klutts said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to him but I’d do it (try to save his life) again.”

mmeaux@panews.com