'We feel the love’: Ala. firefighters show up to support injured firefighter’s daughter

By Bill Carey 
FireRescue1 Staff  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The daughter of one of the Mobile firefighters seriously injured during a deadly house fire received an academic award Monday morning and her father's coworkers were there to represent him. 

Firefighter Deandre Hartman suffered extreme burns to his arms, eyes, and lungs and is recovering at UAB's Burn and Trauma ICU, WSFA reported. He was one of the five firefighters injured in the deadly house fire that claimed the lives of two people, including a young child. 

[EARLIER: 5 Ala. firefighters burned, injured during rescues in fatal fire]

Hartman’s daughter and family were surprised by who stepped in his place, “We feel the love from each and every one of them, so we are glad that they are here to support him by supporting his daughter,” Deandre Hartman's mother said. 

Hartman's wife Melshaundra said they used to talk about being injured on the job and that he would want his sacrifice to be worth it. “He has always said that if he was ever hurt on the job, he wanted to be rescuing somebody else,” she said. 

Chief of Special Operations Sam Castanza was one of the firefighters attending the school event. Castanza has been by Hartman’s side every day at UAB, “It is an absolute day-to-day fight. He is an absolute fighter and he is doing well,” Castanza said.