(PUEBLO, Colo.) — A Pueblo Transit operator was quick to spring into action when he was driving near Chestnut Street and saw a fence engulfed in flames.
On Saturday, March 1, Paul Trujillo was driving a bus route near Chestnut Drive in the early morning on Saturday, when he saw smoke rising from a fence that was on fire. Trujillo pulled over the bus, reported the fire to the City of Pueblo Dispatch, and quickly ran to knock on the doors of the two stucco homes the fence was between.
The fence had nearly burned down and Trujillo was afraid the people inside the homes were unaware of the danger. He knocked on the doors to alert the families at around 8 a.m.
“He came by pounding on the door to let us know that the fence and the gate was on fire,” said Pueblo resident Evelyn English. “If he hadn’t done that, it probably would have gone into the home itself. It could have been so much worse.”
English thought it was her daughter knocking, in a voicemail she mentioned that her daughter lived next door on the property connected to the burning fence.
Once Trujillo alerted the family, he grabbed a fire extinguisher from the bus and was able to put out the fire, and a neighbor brought over a hose to douse the flames.
“I was just surprised by the fence being on fire so I pulled over and did what I could to help,” said Trujillo. “I felt like I was just doing the right thing and what anyone else would do.”
After that, Trujillo returned to his job, driving his bus on the streets of Pueblo.
The City of Pueblo learned of Trujillo’s actions from a follow-up voicemail from English on Monday, March 3. English called to report her gratitude and let Pueblo Transit know that one of their bus drivers was a hero for putting out the fire,
“We’ve lived here for 40-some years and we wave to the bus drivers who go by, I really appreciate them because they’re friendly and they wave back,” said English. “I don’t know everyone, but they all wave when they go by. I’m so thankful for Paul and how he helped our family with the fire.”
