Critically Injured Houston Firefighter Released From Hospital

HOUSTON --

A firefighter who was critically injured while battling a house fire a month and a half ago has gone home to continue his recovery, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Darin Unruh would not call himself a hero.

"I'm just thankful. Very thankful," he said.

Unruh was trapped while fighting flames at a northeast Houston home on Nov. 3.

The burns on his body are mostly healed. His head is still healing from life-threatening burns. He had to have skin grafted on his eyelids.

Unruh said he didn't think that rushing into the burning home to try to save a man supposedly trapped inside was heroic.

"I just think it's who I am," he said. "It's a God-given talent. I believe the Lord kept me alive. It just wasn't my time yet to go home."

Unruh is a captain in the Houston Fire Department. He has been fighting fires and saving lives for 12 years.

"Firemen do this every day," he said. "They're trying to save lives on a regular basis."

He said he doesn't remember what happened during the fire. He said he doesn't remember his fellow firefighters pulling him out, nor does he remember another firefighter getting minor burns.

He said he doesn't remember anything until he woke up in the hospital more than a month later.

"What was going through my mind was, 'God help me. Jesus help me. This is going to be hard,'" said Unruh's wife, Jill.

Unruh's wife was by his side every day. They have two children, 5 and 6 years old, who did not know if their dad would live.

"Life is fragile. Life is short," said Jill Unruh. "I didn't know when he was going to come home."

He's still healing. He has to wear a special mask for the next six to nine months to help the skin heal on his face.

He returned home Friday, just two weeks after he woke up and just in time to have Christmas with his family.

"Coming home was absolutely wonderful," said Darin Unruh.

"It's a gift," Jill Unruh said.

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