On December 19 the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation hosted the annual Holiday Lunch at The Burn Center. The board of the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation presented the annual donation to The Burn Center for 2011 in the amount of $74,000. This donation will be used to support burn research projects, burn rehabilitation and survivor support programs, providing pressure garments for patients in need, burn treatment and education for staff. Since 2004 the DC Firefighter Burn Foundation has provided over $458,000 in support to The Burn Center at Washington Hospital Center.

Seven months after receiving 2nd and 3rd degree burns to over 35% of his body Chuckie Ryan returned to work yesterday with Rescue Squad 3. Firefighter Ryan spent 49 days in The Burn Center at Washington Hospital after getting caught in a flashover shortly after midnight on April 8th of this year.

He had been injured along with four other firefighters in a blaze set by an arsonist at a house on 48th Place in Northeast D.C. on April 8.

Ryan says he just focused on getting back to work and saving a life is all just part of the job.

A man pleaded guilty last week to setting the fire on 48th Place, as well as other fires in the Washington area.

Seven months after firefighter Chuckie Ryan was severely burned while fighting a house fire on 48th Pl. in NE DC, he will finally return to work tomorrow at Rescue 3. Ryan received second and 3rd degree burns to over 35% of his body while searching for occupants shortly after midnight on April 8th. Firefighter Mike Deavers, Sergeant Ramon Hounshell, and Lt. Rob Alvarado all received various degrees of burn after becoming caught in a flashover.

In remembrance and to honor those lost on 9/11/01 long time friend of the DC Fire Department and retired member of our communications division Elliott Goodman designed a special collectors edition badge to mark the 10 year anniversary. Elliot has donated $2,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the badges to the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation. Elliot also paid a visit to The Burn Center to present Dr. Marion Jordan with one of these limited edition badges. We would like to thank Elliot for his friendship and continued support of the foundation and the members of the District of Columbia Fire Department.

We would like to thank our friends at PBI for donating $5,000 for our burn survivors support programs. THANK YOU!

Here are just a few of the highlights from our trip to the Adaptive Sports Center. Click on one of the images to see more of the photos. You should also check out the video in the story below.

Throw out the old cliché that three’s a crowd, because the three participants with the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation group were as tight knit as can be. Chris Tingley, Todd Beckett and Chris Schoepke, who are each at various stages of recovering from burns and other injuries, visited the ASC from June 12 - 19. Throughout the week they challenged, supported and encouraged each other to succeed.

A focus on physical and mental recovery was an integral part of this group’s goals, as they took part in the week’s adventures. For Todd, the trip provided an opportunity to successfully participate in an activity that he had loved prior to being injured.

“One of the things I mourned when I was injured was that I wouldn’t be able to teach my yet-unconceived child to rock climb,” Todd says. “Rock climbing was something I really enjoyed doing; I did it for my bachelor party and yesterday I rock climbed for the first time since the accident.”

Chris S., who is recovering from being electrocuted, is experiencing memory loss, balance and socialization challenges. He exuded positive energy throughout the week, and tackled each activity with focus and perseverance. He rallied behind the team during some of the most physically demanding moments and inspired his fellow burn survivors.

“It was great for me to go with two recent burn survivors, people who haven’t even been recovering for a year,” says Chris T. “It was quite interesting to see how well they adapted to this. Especially Chris (S.), who has lost a lot of his balance and didn’t complain once. It was really, really awesome to have his encouragement the whole way through. He encouraged us! He’s a trooper. I don’t know how he did it.”

The group’s bond strengthened with a two-night backpacking trip from Brush Creek to Cement Creek, where they hiked, set up camp, cooked meals together and shared some good laughs.  A large boulder field stood between them and a magnificent view of a Colorado mountain sunset.

“They pushed me to the top,” Chris S. says of the group. The reward was the sight of a sky lit up in oranges, pinks and yellows. “It was great. It was awesome. It was well worth it,” he says.

“Chris Schoepke, his balance from day one to the end was significantly better than when he first arrived,” says ASC Instructor Will Nunez. “He faced the challenge of walking with a heavy backpack over unstable terrain.”

“I just slowed down and took my time,” Chris S. says of the trip. Not only did his balance improve, he was chatting it up with everyone by the end. “I’m working on social goals,” Chris S. says. “You know… talking more… learning about the team and what happened to them.”

To cap off their week, the three headed out well before the rooster crows to summit Mt. Crested Butte.  Using crampons, ropes and ice axes the team hiked through snow, ice and uneven, rocky terrain to reach the top. The prize was spectacular 360-degree views of the Elk Mountain Range, including several snow-covered Fourteeners rising up majestically from the earth.

“I realized how much I like Colorado and how much I like the outdoors,” Chris T. says. “All of us have stretched our limits pretty far here and realized we can get back to a lot of the things we used to do before we were burned.”

Saying goodbye was the biggest challenge for us. “They are one of the best groups I’ve ever worked with,” Will says. “Dropping them off at the airport was a little emotional.”

 
 
Written by Katie Onheiber, Adaptive Sports Center

Stacey Cohan sits down with Firefighter Chuckie Ryan and Mike Deavers following the arrest of the suspect accused of setting the fire that nearly took their lives back in April of this year.  Five firefighters received burns fighting the fire on 48th Place in North East DC. 

Deavers sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his arms, back, and legs while searching for trapped victims inside the house.  Firefighter Ryan received 2nd and 3rd degree burns to over 35% of his body and spent 49 days in The Burn Center.  Sergeant Ramon Hounshell and Lt. Rob Alvarado also where hospitalized from burns sustained while fighting the fire.  All are expected to make a full recovery and return to work.

Maurice Dues, 26, is now charged with setting three fires in DC and is suspected of setting numerous others in the District.  Another DC Firefighter sustained injuries while fighting a separate fire the suspect is accused of setting. 

A D.C. man has been arrested and charged with setting a series of fires in northeast D.C. One of those fires was responsible for injuring five firefighters.