The baggage medics, firefighters carry on the frontlines
Mackenzie Stafford
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Greg Haas, an EMT and firefighter medic with 26 years of experience, is currently responding to the intense “Aspen Acres” fire. Here, he has served in multiple roles and is grappling with the physical and emotional toll the fire takes.
Haas emphasized the demanding nature of wildfire response, noting the diverse medical incidents encountered, from scorpion stings to more serious illnesses. He says he initially served as a night medical unit leader on the “Aspen Acres” fire.
He staffed the medical unit and coordinated medical responses for incidents on the fire line and within the camp itself.
After his initial role, Haas was deployed to the fire line due to a ‘critical need’. He supported falling operations south of Beulah, using his background in sawing activities to help clear roads. He says being out on the front lines, he can help to immediately respond to injuries that crews may face.
“Firefighters are my family and that’s a big deal for me,” said Haas. “So that’s actually where I really think that’s the biggest influence in keeping me in the medical field is care about these people. It’s a really small, tight-knit community.”
The medic explained that once committed, the profession is difficult to leave. He says you really have to have a heart to be out in the field fighting fires.
“Fire gets in your blood,” Haas said. “It’s it’s, a passion. You know, it takes a certain type to do this, but once you get into that family and into that group and into that environment, it grabs hold. And it’s it doesn’t let go.”
Haas explained that the Aspen Acres fire has been particularly challenging.
“The fire dynamics on this one were incredibly intense. You know, we see a lot of fire, but people who have been here 40, 50 years are saying they’ve never seen fire behavior like this,” explained Haas.
The fire is also making its way into more treacherous territory, according to fire officials. When trying to respond to those areas on the front lines, Haas explained it’s no light load they hold on to.
Haas says his medical pack alone weighs about 40 pounds. With water and lunch, his pack can reach 55 pounds. Additionally, he says medics often carry a large rescue stretcher, adding another 20 pounds, bringing their total load to between 50 and 70 pounds.
“There’s a lot of weight on our medics, they carry a burden I don’t think most people recognize,” Haas said.
Haas also shared how difficult it’s been in this specific response after recently losing a friend who was a firefighter. He received the news while walking into an operations meeting for the “Aspen Acres” fire.
“Timing was rough. You know, you find out walking into an operations meeting is when I found out that I had lost a friend. Shock. You know how that is? That initial shock, you know, like, wow. Did this really happen?” recounted Haas.
He explained how his friend always had a smile and a positive attitude. He said his friend loved firefighting, and they had met when doing sawing operations in Montana.
The loss of a colleague deeply impacts the firefighting community, Haas shared.
“It’s a really tight-knit community in the fire world,” Haas explained. “So when we have a loss, we take it really hard. And you don’t have to be best friends with these people to take it that way. You know, we lost a pilot here recently a K-MAX that went down on one of the nearby fires. Just as devastating,” shared Haas.
He says the emotional toll also extends to witnessing the destruction of homes.
“You see crews running out with big, serious faces, but you don’t see the tears,” Haas stated. “They cry when that house burned, the one that they tried to save. So I think that’s the biggest message I’d like to see people see is understand these people care, you know, whether we succeed or not.”
The community’s support has been a significant factor, with residents offering donations, displaying signs of gratitude, and stopping firefighters to thank them and offer to pay for their meals, shared Haas
He recounted an instance where two young girls gave him an Otter Pop and thanked him for his work, even though he was unsure of whether their own home had survived.
“It’s been an incredible interaction with the community itself, especially given the loss that they’ve had,” Haas said.
A lot of work remains to be done on the “Aspen Acres”” fire. Firefighters will continue to engage the fire in tough and dangerous terrain until it is 100% contained.