PRIEST RIVER — While county officials had already recognized the trio, Priest River Police Chief Drew McLain said their life-saving efforts deserved additional recognition.

The trio — Priest River Officer Scott Kennedy and Bonner County Sheriff's deputies Keith Trout and Justin Penn — were presented with a letter of commendation and the Idaho Life Saving Medal at the Priest River City Council meeting on Nov. 2.

"This was such an amazing event that as a city we need to recognize these individuals whose actions saved one of our local residents," Police Chief Drew McLain told city officials.

The officer and deputies' quick response saved the life of an elderly resident trapped in her apartment when a fire was reported at the Beardmore Apartments — a facility for elderly and special-needs residents — on Sept. 29. Although the facility is divided into separate units, they all share a common attic, McLain said. Fire was observed in at least one unit, and smoke was billowing out of the roof.

While many residents had self-evacuated, the police chief said the trio quickly noticed that one woman remained trapped.

"She was standing in the center of her apartment, propped up by her walker and she was calling for help," McLain told the council. "Fire was observed on her ceiling and smoke was filling her apartment."

Working together, the trio shattered a window on the apartment's west side, but the woman was unable to get to it. The deputies and officer moved to the apartment's east side and shattered the opposite window.

"(They) realized this woman would certainly die if they did not immediately get her out," McLain said. "…They were able to get the woman, who was in shock, to come to them and she was lifted out of the apartment through the shattered window."

During the rescue, McLain said Trout, Penn and Kennedy inhaled large amounts of toxic smoke but continued their efforts until the woman was safely out of the building.

"Deputy Penn, Deputy Trout and Officer Kennedy have lived up to the highest standard of law enforcement," McLain wrote in the commendation. "They put their safety and others before their own personal safety. … If not for their bravery, an elderly female would have certainly perished."

Their actions deserve the highest honors that the city can present, McLain said.

The police chief said that all three are longtime law enforcement officers, dedicated to their community and to the residents they have sworn to protect.

Bonner County Sheriff Darryl Wheeler told the trio and councilors that he was proud of the community's emergency responders — and the relationship his department has with the Priest River Police Department. The trio are exemplary examples of how law enforcement in the community responds — and should respond, he said.

"That night, the courage and the bravery that was shown, the selflessness for them just to break in that window and rescue that woman is just true courage," Wheeler said.

The sheriff recalled a comment from a sergeant early in his career who joked that God made police officers to give firefighters someone to look up to.

"Today we have three men that they can look up to because that's a normal duty of theirs," Wheeler added. "This is over and beyond the call of duty and I just want to thank each one of them for their service and their duty."

McLain agreed, adding that words such as bravery and courage only touch the surface of the men's actions. In addition to rescuing the woman, they kept other residents from returning to their apartments and ensured all at the facility were safe.

"It was a pretty wild night," McLain said. "It's nothing short of miraculous that they actually were able to save this elderly lady who just wasn't able to get out of her apartment on her own."

Priest River Mayor Jeff Connolly and Priest River councilors applauded the trio, thanking them for their actions and dedication to their community.

Connolly praised the first responders at an earlier council meeting, saying the trio's actions and those of the West Pend Oreille Fire District both saved lives and prevented the fire from spreading.

"Everything came together," Connolly said previously. "That one could have been way worse."