Heroes Among Us: Portraits of First Responders

Meet a handful of first responders, representatives of the thousands in our community who give their best when the worst comes calling.

Maybe they’re different from the rest of us. They routinely put their lives on the line for people they don’t know, will never know. They’re on call, some 24-7. They see more bad in one day than most of us see in a lifetime. And even though they wade into the worst moments of people’s lives—fires, shootings, life-changing accidents and threats of imminent death—many of them simply shrug when you thank them for their service. It’s the job, they say. Gratitude isn’t required, they say.

“I’m just a dude,” says Eric Zanotto, a wildland firefighter. “Really, I’m just a dude.”

Meet a handful of first responders, representatives of the thousands in our community who give their best when the worst comes calling.

Start with this behind the scenes video from photographer Aaron Anderson; then link to the individual profiles below.

Springs Magazine BTS from Aaron Anderson on Vimeo.


 

First Responders: Brooks Dillahunty, Flight for Life medic

BROOKS DILLAHUNTY
Flight Paramedic
Flight for Life Colorado

 


First Responders: Fire Battalion Chief behind the steering wheel

JAYME MCCONNELLOGUE
Battalion Chief
Colorado Springs Fire Department

 


First Responders: Armando Newell, SWAT Team officer

ARMANDO NEWELL
Police Officer, SWAT Team
Colorado Springs Police Department

 


First Responders: Teresa Burgess, El Paso County Search and Rescue

TERESA BURGESS
Rescue Member
El Paso County Search and Rescue

 


First Responders: Eric Zanotto, District Fire Management Officer, US Forest Service

ERIC ZANOTTO
District Fire Management Officer
U.S. Forest Service

 

—T.D. Mobley-Martinez. Photography by Aaron Anderson.

 

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Maybe they’re different from the rest of us. They routinely put their lives on the line for people they don’t know, will never know. They’re on call, some 24-7. They see more bad in one day than most of us see in a lifetime. And even though they wade into the worst moments of people’s lives—fires, shootings, life-changing accidents and threats of imminent death—many of them simply shrug when you thank them for their service. It’s the job, they say. Gratitude isn’t required, they say. “I’m just a dude,” says Eric Zanotto, a wildland firefighter. “Really, I’m just a dude.” Meet a handful of first responders, representatives of the thousands in our community who give their best when the worst comes calling. Start with this behind the scenes video from photographer Aaron Anderson; then link to the individual profiles below. Springs Magazine BTS from Aaron Anderson on Vimeo.
  First Responders: Brooks Dillahunty, Flight for Life medic

BROOKS DILLAHUNTY Flight Paramedic Flight for Life Colorado

 
First Responders: Fire Battalion Chief behind the steering wheel

JAYME MCCONNELLOGUE Battalion Chief Colorado Springs Fire Department

 
First Responders: Armando Newell, SWAT Team officer

ARMANDO NEWELL Police Officer, SWAT Team Colorado Springs Police Department

 
First Responders: Teresa Burgess, El Paso County Search and Rescue

TERESA BURGESS Rescue Member El Paso County Search and Rescue

 
First Responders: Eric Zanotto, District Fire Management Officer, US Forest Service

ERIC ZANOTTO District Fire Management Officer U.S. Forest Service

  —T.D. Mobley-Martinez. Photography by Aaron Anderson.