Treasure Coast Newspapers
VERO BEACH, Fla. — Veteran firefighter Dustin Hawkins is hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns received during a flash fire while he was working on a rescue boat last week, according to Indian River County Fire Rescue officials.
Apparently, fuel fumes in the boat’s bilge ignited in front of him, causing the burns.
Hawkins was flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce and then to
Orlando Regional Medical Center. There he was listed in fair condition, a hospital spokesman said. He has burns to his arms, forearms and face.
Hawkins, 31, joined the Indian River County Fire Department in early 2003.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“There is no indication of wrongdoing,” Assistant Chief
Brian Burkeen said Monday.
The incident occurred at 7:40 p.m. Thursday at Fire Station No. 2 near the Merrill Barber Bridge. Other firefighters were on the 27-foot Boston Whaler when the fire occurred and helped extinguish the flames. No one else was injured and the boat is back in service, Burkeen said.
Hawkins has an attorney, Jeffrey Bickler, looking into the situation. Burkeen referred further questions to the department’s private attorney, Paul Westcott, of Vero Beach, who handles workers’ compensation cases.
“We are just trying to make sure all the evidence is secured” if there is legal action, Westcott said.
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