Colorado Springs firefighters with Colorado Task Force One return home after helping tornado victims

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado Task Force One returned home after three weeks working on the damage left behind by two hurricanes.

“We’re there to do a job or help them find their loved ones and help rescue those who are lost out there, and it’s definitely a tough job,” Lt. Aaron Mcconnellogue said.

Mcconnellogue was one of the firefighters with the Colorado Springs Fire Department who flew to Florida. From there, the task force traveled to parts of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene. They assisted in search and rescue efforts by doing what they called a hasty search. They work in buildings to find people who need help and provide them with things like food, water and medical care.

“We’re trying to get to as many places as quickly as possible, but we’re systematically going from building to building until we fulfill everything they want us to search for,” Mcconnellogue said.

McConnellogue says he’s been a part of the task force for years. He told me it would take a coordinated effort, every day, from 23 fire departments across the country.

He says he is honored to be part of the team; a team that has seen so much devastation and first responders doing what they can to help entire communities begin the long process of recovery.

“I think it’s something that people take a lot of pride in being part of an elite team, and they know we’re out there, trying to do something for all these people across the country,” McConnellogue said.