Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. On the first Tuesday of every August, community law enforcement and emergency agencies take time out from solving crimes, saving lives and ensuring the safety of their community to say hello to the folks they serve.

Throughout the year, residents see patrol cars racing through town, sirens blaring, blue and red lights streaking the sky with warning, doing their best to keep their neighbors out of harm’s way. Firefighters stretch hoses from their tankers, stopping a wild land or structure fire in its tracks, before a small blaze becomes a major disaster.

Accident patients are treated and transported to hospitals and lost hikers are found and returned to their homes. From the outside, it appears to be an action-filled life for heroes and super people.

In reality, local fire and law workers spend much of their time on everyday chores and maintenance projects. Much of their work is behind the scenes, making sure that when they are needed for emergencies, equipment, personnel and support groups are ready at a moment’s notice to head to life and property threatening events.

Last Tuesday, August 7, 2018, Nederland residents saw a towering Nederland Fire Protection District engine ladder climb to the sky against a dramatic sunset. Spectators had a chance to climb that ladder, to get a bird’s eye view of our small town on the shores of Barker Reservoir.

“It was scary,” said one brave participant, “But I liked that I did it.”

Isn’t that one of the definitions of a hero? Meeting a challenge even though shaking in one’s boots?

Boys and girls had a chance to sit on the Nederland ATVs and pretend to roar up dirt hillsides, pushing the engine to its max on the way to a rescue.

At least 150 hot dogs and drinks were consumed by the visitors.

The dramatic exhibition of an extrication exercise demonstrated the complexities and training involved in tearing apart a vehicle to save a victim trapped in twisted pieces of metal. The spectators see the results of hundreds of hours of training that lead to the safe removal of a patient from the vehicle. A cheer of approval met the final scalping of the car, the roof being pulled back with a team effort by the firefighters.

NFPD firefighter Eric Abramson told the spectators that one of the most important pieces of the rescue, was making sure the trapped person was safe as doors were split by the Jaws of Life and shattered glass shards were captured before doing any damage.

Nederland Police Department officers gave out patches and badges and tattoos and answered questions. Yes, the gun was real. Yes, police officers had families, knew how to cook, attended school events and spent time washing their cars and trucks and keeping them shiny and filled with gas.

Abramson says the event was good practice for them. “We don’t get to do this a lot.”

Members of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the United States Forest Service also were on hand to share stories and answer questions.

Although a Flight for Life helicopter had been scheduled to show up for the party, the birds were out on too many other calls to show up.

Raffle tickets were handed out by NPD officers Darragh O’Nuallain and Troy Tomasko, many of them gift certificates to local businesses.

(Originally published in the August 23, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)

Most important of all, locals had the chance to get up close and personal with local emergency personnel. To give a hug, shake hands or just thank the people who watch our backs, who risk their life and limbs to save ours.