A 2 a.m. phone call almost always means bad news. For San Isabel Electric lineworkers Eric Guadagnoli, Tim Paulson, and Matt Zagar it means there’s a power outage, medical emergency, or, a fire is raging, and it’s time for them to move. All three men balance full-time lineworker careers with serving as volunteer firefighters in their hometowns.
“It takes a unique person and character to do one of these jobs — to be mentally and physically willing and capable,” Paulson said, who is also the fire chief for the Spanish Peaks Fire Protection District. “Doing both takes a lot of understanding from your family and commitment.”
There’s immense risk in both jobs, but it’s a calculated risk. They train to minimize danger through preparation and strategic decision-making. The mental toll is heavy. Each of the men have been called to emergencies involving loved ones and friends. In the linework profession, the awareness that a single mistake can be fatal creates intense, chronic psychological pressure.
“You see people on their worst days,” said Zagar, who volunteered with Huerfano County Fire Protection District for about six months and is now with the La Veta Fire Protection District. “But you also get to see the best in people — how a small town rallies when someone needs help.”
That sense of community drives them, whether they’re restoring power or providing first aid. “There’s a lot of overlap,” added Guadagnoli, who has been with the La Veta Fire Protection District for six years. “Teamwork, communication, safety — those are what keep us alive in both roles.”
According to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), 65% of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers. “It’s a really cool fact that most people don’t realize. It really puts it into perspective just how many people are protected by volunteers. There’s a huge amount of people that don’t realize their local department is 100% volunteers,” Paulson said.
Across the country, the number of volunteer firefighter crews is shrinking. The NVFC reports that the United States lost more than 200,000 volunteers in the past three decades. Departments struggle to recruit and retain volunteers when required training must be done on the volunteer’s own time, without pay. “It’s not about glory,” said Guadagnoli, “Someone’s got to do it — and if we don’t, who will?” San Isabel Electric is extremely proud of these men for their efforts as firemen outside of their career as linemen.
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