Tommy Moore and Chris Sack have been honored with Citizen Life Saver awards for their heroic actions during a house fire last May.

After spotting the blaze, Moore and Sack called emergency services before breaking into the house themselves and alerting two sleeping tenants who were unaware of the fire. 

The house, located on Whitetail Lane just north of Steamboat Springs, was owned by Terry and Kathy Stokes, who were out of the town at the time of the fire. They rented the basement to two young women who were saved by Moore and Sack’s quick actions. The home was completely destroyed. 

According to Undersheriff Josh Carrell, Sack searched for water while Moore used his phone to call 911. Moore then entered the home by kicking in the back door, yelling to see if anyone was in the house. It was the yelling that awoke the two women in the basement. 

The awards ceremony took place Wednesday at the Combined Law Enforcement facility in Steamboat Springs. Stephen Harbison, the school resource officer for the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, opened the ceremony by quoting a statesman from the Roman Republic, Marcus Tullius Cicero: “It shows a brave and resolute spirit not to be agitated in excited circumstances.”

For Harbison, these words describe bravery and the actions of Moore and Sack. 

Harbison was the on-call detective on the day of the fire. “It was a quiet afternoon until then,” he said. 

Deputy Harbison and Deputy Jake Doolan responded to the call of an active structure fire at the time. When they arrived on the scene, the upper level of the structure was already engulfed in flames.

The incident, which Carrell described as “intense,” required several fire emergency service personnel from across the county to assist in fighting the blaze.

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Following a ceremonial march by the Post 44 Legion and the Veteran of Foreign Wars colorguard on Wednesday, Moore and Sack were presented with the award by Carrell. This is only the second time a citizen has been named a Life Saver by Routt County. 

The “immediate and courageous response and selfless acts of Tommy and Chris saved the lives” of the two women, according to Harbison. 

Moore and Sack received framed letters detailing their actions, the words submitted by Harbison, as well as red and blue pins with the engraved words, “Life Saver.” 

“I was very happy that Chris was there with me. I don’t know if I could have found the courage without him. I think we just did what any good neighbor would do,” said Moore. Carrell said that Sack was still wondering weeks later if he could have done more to save more things from the house, like photographs. Carrell attributed this as a testament to Sack’s selflessness. 

“The important things were saved,” said homeowner Kathy Stokes, adding that many people asked how Kathy and Terry Stokes were doing after losing nearly all of their possessions. “That has really never been part of the equation. And the reason is, Tommy saved the girls.”

Terry Stokes thanked the Steamboat community as a whole.

“After a long time, it feels that I was able to get these two heroes in and recognize them. So, thank you,” said Harbison.