Three of the firefighters injured Wednesday night went to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctor's Hospital in Augusta, for treatment. It's the largest burn center in the U.S. and third in the world.
Dr. Fred Mullins is the president and medical director of the burn center. Mullins says they treat thousands of patients each year. On average, about a dozen are firefighters from around the country.
"They are so well trained, and do such a great job, and have such good equipment that they don't get burned that often. Most of the time, it's just minor burns. Occasionally, things happen where there's bigger catastrophes where several get burned," he said.
The three firefighters, Battalion Chief Steven Stafford, Captain Ferrell Cromer, and Corporal Adam Michie, each were affected by smoke inhalation. Although Mullins can't comment on specific situations, he said they treat smoke inhalation with oxygen.
"It can be to the point where it actually causes a burn in the lungs. We look down there with a scope and we can see blistering a lot of times or redness," he said in the burn center.
When treating skin burns, doctors first have to evaluate the degree to which someone is hurt.
"We see first degree, which are just redness, we treat those a lot of times with lotion. With second degree that's the wet, blistery, painful, burn and we treat that with something called skin substitutes a lot of times or cream. And then with third degree burns they ultimately are treated with a skin graft," said Mullins.
Throughout the day firefighters from around the Augusta and Atlanta areas came to the burn center to offer families their support.
Friend remembers Lieutenant Parker
Sergeant Jack Harper with the City of Atlanta Fire Department shares fond memories of Lieutenant Randy Parker. He visited the burn center to offer support for to the three families and to visit his fellow brothers.
Before going to Atlanta, Harper worked in Macon for ten years alongside Parker .. Captain Ferrell Cromer and Battalion Chief Steven Stafford. He went through recruit class with Parker. He said his heart dropped when he heard the news.
"He was an outgoing guy. Never seen him get mad at no one. Always funny character. He loved life, he had some tragedies in his life through out the years and overcome them. And unfortunately he wasn't able to overcome this," said Harper.
Harper said firefighters don't work for the money, saying they get gratitude from helping the community.
"It takes a special person to do it. It's a calling, and you know in your heart. And every time that bell rings or you put that uniform on in the morning to go to work, and you sign on the application that you signed, that there might be days you might not come out, come back from the time that alarm goes off," said Harper. "It's a fear that's in the back of your mind."
