One Year Later, Two Pennsylvania Firefighters Still Battling Injuries

July 31, 2008
One year after a fire roared through a Delaware County home, two firefighters are still struggling to overcome their injuries.

One year after a fire roared through a Delaware County home, two firefighters are still struggling to overcome their injuries.

"My heart sinks every time I hear my pager go off or hear a fire company go out for a building fire," said Daniel Brees.

Brees was fighting a fire in a house when the second floor collapsed, trapping him and fellow firefighter Chase Frost.

Brees was knocked unconscious and spent 10 days in the hospital.

The scars from second-degree burns are still visible on his hands, legs and neck.

The emotional scars seem to cut deeper.

"That fire is constantly on my mind, especially because we are coming up on the one-year anniversary of it," Brees said. "I'm looking for a therapist to help deal with the fire."

Brees said his physical injuries have left him unable to work.

"All I get to do is sit home and collect dust, and that's not the kind of person I am," Brees said.

Parkside fire officials said Frost was just released from a Texas hospital a week ago.

Doctors had to amputate an arm and a leg.

"I've been here 17 years and we never had an accident like that," said Deputy Chief John Albany.

Brees said he has no regrets about his time as a volunteer firefighter.

"If I had to do it all over again, I would, not because someone asked but because it's what we do as firemen," he said.

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