Burned Colo. Firefighters Discuss Harrowing Incident

ARVADA, Colo.

They nearly died searching for trapped residents in a house fire. Seven months later, two firefighters who nearly became trapped themselves honor those who have helped them heal.

Chris Paine and Kevin Jacovetta are Arvada firefighters and emergency medical technicians. On April 3, they were both badly burned when they got caught in a house fire.

The fire in the 6500 block of Union Street actually started at a house next door, but the wind blew the flames to the home they were checking for trapped residents. No one was inside except for the firefighters who almost didn't make it out.

"We were in the back bedrooms when the fire blew in on us and we had to go back out through the fire to get out," said Paine. "The sliding glass door on the back melted and it just fell in, and then all of a sudden the fire just came in on us."

"It was just a solid wall of fire. It was like sitting in a blast furnace," said Jacovetta.

Both firefighters would sustain bad burns, but nearly didn't make it out of the house altogether.

"My microphone had melted. There was no way for me to communicate with anyone that I was in trouble so I was yelling for Kevin and Kevin came back into the house. He found me and got me out," said Paine.

"I went back in and searched for him, found him and we both got out," said Jacovetta.

Months-Long Recovery From Burns

"I had second and third degree burns. The back of my right leg was burned, my elbow, my wrist, both my arms and back," said Paine.

Paine went to the hospital early that Sunday morning and didn't leave until Friday. He had multiple skin graft surgeries and didn't return to work for nearly four months. He had just started at Arvada Fire two weeks before he was burned.

"It was very painful. I could tell I was burned after it happened, but I didn't know because I couldn't really see," said Paine. "It felt like my skin had been melted. It was very painful. It's nothing you want to have happen to you."

Jacovetta was burned over 30 percent of his body. He also had two skin graft surgeries.

"Both of my hands, forearms, biceps, triceps, my shoulders (and) neck," said Jacovetta.

He nearly lost his thumb and finger, but doctors at University Hospital's burn unit saved them, allowing him to keep full use of his hands.

"We're here. I'm on the right side of the grass," said Jacovetta.

Burn Unit Honored

At a ceremony Monday night, the Arvada Fire Department honored the University Hospital burn unit for the care they provided the two firefighters.

"They did remarkably well, but they did have some pretty tough days," said Mary Holden, nurse manager of University Hospital's burn trauma intensive care unit.

"What was great about them was whatever we said that they should do to maximize their recovery, they did 110 percent," said Dr. Arek Wictor, fifth year resident in the burn unit at University Hospital.

Paine and Jacovetta were there Monday night when Holden and Wictor were handed a plaque with a fireman's ax and inscription.

"I thought for sure that being tough firefighters that they wouldn't wear their garments," said Holden.

The garments she referred to are their body suits. Both Paine and Jacovetta have to wear compression suits on their upper body and arms to help their burns heal.

"It could be a year, it could be two years," said Paine about wearing the suits. "I feel very fortunate to be alive."

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