GRAHAM, N.C. (WGHP) — First responders from across the country are remembering 52-year-old Battalion Chief Tony Garrison.
Graham fire engineer Daniel Holt says Garrison made an impact on many people in Buncombe County when he lived in the area.
“Him and my aunt were friends as I was growing up. He was one of the guys that would actually come and spend time at the farm and such. He started off in Fairview 20-something years ago,” Holt said.
Holt says Garrison started off as a firefighter and worked his way up to battalion chief of the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department.
“I worked full-time for the fire department in Skyland, which is the neighboring department with Fairview. I actually ran mutual aid calls with them,” Holt said.
On Sept. 27, Garrison died in the line of duty after being caught in a mudslide caused by Hurricane Helene.
Holt says during his second deployment to assist with recovery efforts in Buncombe County, he met with Garrison’s family.
“On this last deployment, I was actually able to sit down with his wife and kids and talk about the good person he was and the type of heart he had to help people in the community,” Holt said