‘Hi, I’m Pete Dern:’ Fresno fire captain meets public for first time since burn accident

Fresno Fire Department Capt. Pete Dern, hospitalized since falling through a roof while fighting a house fire more than three months ago, thanked hospital staff, his family, fellow firefighters and the public for their support as he made his first public appearance Friday morning.

Dern, hailed as “our hero and everyone’s hero,” was greeted with applause as he walked to a news conference held outside the Leon S. Peters Burn Center at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno.

“Hi, I’m Pete Dern,” he said, simply, by way of introduction.

Dern smiled as a Fresno Fire Department cap was gingerly placed on top of his bandaged head. “I’m feeling pretty good,” he said, flanked by wife Kelly Dern, daughter McKenzie Dern, Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis and Dr. William Dominic, the burn center’s medical director.

“Dr. Dominic and his staff have done an amazing job of putting me back together,” Dern said.

Dern suffered second- and third-degree burns over 70% of his body on March 29. He was engulfed in flames for more than a minute and 30 seconds, Donis said. His firefighting gear provided protection, she said, but the gear is not fireproof.

He has had 19 surgeries and over 50 dressing changes for his burn injuries. On Friday, visible bandages protected his hands, left arm and head.

More surgeries will be needed for his burn wounds, but Dominic said the 25-year fire department veteran could be in a rehabilitation setting in the next several weeks. Recovery for burn injuries can take years, and Dominic said Dern “will be our patient for a long time” as the center coordinates his ongoing care.

Dominic said that when Dern arrived at the burn center 105 days ago, he knew by the severity of the captain’s burns that “we’re going to get to know him well.” He also acknowledged that while he had hoped that Dern would “walk out of here, that was no done deal.” He chuckled Friday when it was pointed out that Dern had minutes before walked out of the hospital for the news conference.

Dern and wife Kelly smiled as Dominic was quizzed about what kind of patient the fire captain has been. “My observation is, he has been willing to do what it takes to get better,” Dominic said, including blood draws and 2 a.m. wake-ups by nurses tending to him. “He is someone who is centered.”

Dominic said Dern didn’t ask for notoriety but has been willing to be “sort of a symbol or identifiable person for all the people who have sustained burns but don’t have that notoriety.”

A bystander’s film footage of the fire that showed Dern falling through the roof into an inferno has generated interest and help from around the world. More than $186,000 has been raised in support for Dern, including $168,975 raised through the crowd-sourcing website YouCaring.com. Dozens of blood drives have been organized, children have collected dimes, bands have held benefit concerts and motorcycle clubs have held rides to raise money in Dern’s name for the family and the burn center. Firefighters worldwide have lent their support.

The outpouring of support has been heartwarming, Kelly Dern said. “We just couldn’t have done it without everyone. Thank you.”

Dern said the community’s thoughts and prayers have mattered. “I can feel the support.”

He thanked his family and his wife, who has been at his side every day. And he thanked his firefighting family. Someone from the fire department has been at the hospital daily since the accident.

“It’s just a comfort knowing someone is around all the time,” Dern said, and turning to his chief, who sat to his right, he said: “Thanks for letting them come.”

Donis said Dern is a department leader and “an amazing man.”

She praised firefighters for rallying to support one of their own. Firefighters spend a third of their lives together, she said. “It’s really clear this is a family, from the fire chief right down to the newest recruit.”

Dern has molded the department, said Fire Capt. Paul B. Garner, who has worked with him for 19 years. “He has turned a lot of people into what they are today.”

Shortly after the accident, firefighters began arriving at the burn center, and at one point, 40 to 60 were in the hallway, which has a sign posted saying, “keep the hallway clear and quiet.” Shooed out of the hall, firefighters found an empty office in the burn center and commandeered it.

The office was awaiting furniture for Sandra Yovino, the burn center’s nursing director, but it’s serving a better purpose for now, she said. Every day, a signed card or poster or T-shirt arrives and is added to the ones already on display in the room.

A poem written by a woman in her 80s has been framed. She rode her power chair to the hospital to hand-deliver it, Garner said. “She came down here and read it and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 9:08 AM with the headline "‘Hi, I’m Pete Dern:’ Fresno fire captain meets public for first time since burn accident."