Jacqueline Hart, Gilpin County.  Chris Schimanskey, of the Timberline Fire Protection Department, celebrated 40 years of volunteer service last Thursday, with fellow fire fighters, at Roy’s Last Shot. Although Chris’s continued service to TFPD is a remarkable gift, he reports it is he who feels grateful. “I have two families, my brothers and sisters in the department, and my family at home,” he said. Chris pointed out the importance of family support and what many families must overlook. “There are dinners that are prepared and not attended and holidays that are postponed because we are always on call.”

Chris said he has been amazed at the support from the community in the recent elections, interacting with members of the community over the years and, of course, the support of the High-Country Auxiliary, who sees to the needs of firefighters and visiting rescue workers in the area, allowing them to focus on their work. His gratitude extended not only to those he served with in his department, but to departments TFPD has co-operated over the years. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with the best people,” he said.

Chris grew up in Connecticut and traveled in a “hippie-van” in his youth, attending Mardi-Gras celebrations and generally having a good time.

Following his free-spirited days, he joined the Navy and visited Colorado with a friend for five days while on leave. He said he knew right away during his visit that he wanted to live in Colorado, and upon discharge, he moved to Gilpin County.

After about a year, he thought he would volunteer with what was then the Colorado Sierra Fire Department as a way to meet people and loved the life and sense of family so much that he’s still there. Chris advises others trying to find a place in their community to find a way to serve that fits them. He says, “It’s a great way to feel a part of the community and find your place.”

Chris said he’s had many experiences with Timberline that stand out to him, but one that comes to mind more often than others was a medical call he answered some years ago. He said the woman needing assistance had to be placed on a gurney and removed from her home due to the severity of her illness. As Chris helped carry her out, she suddenly yelled “Stop!” startling her rescuers. Chris said she looked at him, touched his hand and simply said, “Thank you.” “I’ll never forget that,” Chris said. “Like I said, it’s me that’s thankful for experiences like these.”

Over the years, Chris has had the opportunity to observe many changes within the department. He says when he first came on board the department handled about 50 calls a year, compared to 750 last year. He has seen TFPD build relationships with other departments and points out the co-operation of five departments working together at the tragic fire in Dory Lakes this past Christmas night. TFPD’s recent involvement helping departments fight wildfires in California and other states is inspiring to him as well.

Chris says training wasn’t as formal 40 years ago. “We got together once a month to make sure trucks were running and so on. It’s really all about safety now.” He’s grateful to see the expertise of EMT’s, wildlands specialists, ice rescue, hazmat, structural and swift water rescue, to name a few. He credits the taxpayers and the community for the support that makes these trainings, and the overall growth, possible. Chris is involved with TFPD safety training today and says he tells new recruits about his own close call to encourage them to take their safety seriously. When Chris showed up to his first structure fire, he made a mistake that almost cost him his life. He was on the roof of a house before he noticed the fire inside had consumed the interior of the home, though flames were not yet visible on the outside. He jumped off the roof and as soon as his feet hit the ground the windows and doors blew out. “I don’t consider myself a spiritual man, but someone was looking out for me that day.” He says there is a difference between being deliberately unsafe and making a mistake. The training TFPD can conduct today allows firefighters to avoid deliberately unsafe actions and situations.

Chris’s wife Cheryl also retired from volunteer service with TFPD in 2013 after 33 years. Chris retired from Boulder City Water in 2016 and says he doesn’t have any plans to leave TFPD. Since retiring, he has accepted a position serving on the pension board of director’s and says his plans include, “to keep doing this and shoot for 50 years.”

For more information about Timberline Fire Department go to www.colorado.gov/timberlinefire