Abstract

This film entitled ‘Stories of Survival’ tells the story of two Washington DC firefighters who sustained extensive burns while on the job. On 30 May 1999, Joe Morgan and Engine Company No. 26 were the first to arrive on the scene of a townhouse fire in Northeast Washington DC. This fire claimed the lives of two fellow firefighters and left Joe with burns over 65% of his body. This video takes you on the journey from the beginning, with pictures and film of the actual fire through the painstaking recovery and rehabilitation process. On 29 October 2007, Charlie Shyab and Engine Company No. 4 responded to an apartment fire. Charlie and three of his fellow firefighters became trapped on the second floor of the building when an unknown fire raging in the basement flashed up through the first level of the house. Through interviews with the firefighters themselves and members of the The Burn Center at Washington Hospital Center, this film describes the emotional and physical toll that a burn injury can have on a firefighter. It demonstrates how quickly things can change in a firefighting situation and how important safety measures are.