By Jim Tuttle
The Public Opinion
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — One of the firefighters injured Saturday while battling a mobile home fire in Hamilton Township reportedly had skin graft surgery Monday.
Assistant Chief Jason Kuehler remains in a critical care unit at Johns Hopkins Burn Center at Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, according to Deputy Chief Jeremy Rebok, Franklin Fire Company.
“It’s going to be a long haul for Jason,” he said.
Kuehler suffered severe burns to 20 percent of his body. He is now listed in stable condition. He was scheduled to undergo his first round of grafts Monday. The number of procedures that will be necessary and the duration of his hospitalization have not been determined.
Firefighter Nick Stefany was discharged Sunday from the Lehigh Valley Burn Center in Allentown, Rebok said. Stefany reportedly suffered burns to his hands, wrist and ear. He has an appointment for re-evaluation Thursday at Bayview.
“He’s doing very well. He’s got a lot of pain to the areas that were burned, but he’s in good spirits,” Rebok said, adding that Stefany has already been to visit Kuehler in Baltimore.
He wasn’t alone. A convoy of vehicles brought about 20 firefighters to the burn center Sunday. Meanwhile, firefighters have signed up to be at the hospital in shifts, two people at a time for eight to 10 hours.
They plan to be there at least through Saturday to show their support and assist the injured man’s family around the clock, Rebok said. “It probably will continue for quite some more time,” he said.
The hospitalized firefighter has a wife and two young children, Rebok said.
Kuehler, Stefany and Josh Caratozzola were rushed to Chambersburg Hospital early Saturday after they were injured inside the burning mobile home at 1449 Frank Road. From there, Kuehler was flown to Baltimore and Stefany was driven to Allentown. Caratozzola was treated and released.
Rebok said it is believed that a “flashover” inside the home may be responsible for their injuries, but the incident is still under investigation, along with the cause of the fire itself.
“We’re just trying to take care of our issues at hand,” he said. “We’re just trying to pull through this situation and make sure that the family’s needs are taken care of.”
In a statement issued Saturday by Pennsylvania State Police, the destroyed mobile home was identified as the residence of Richard Crider, 58.
Rebok said he was unaware of Crider’s location, or whether any pets died in the fire.
A call to Franklin Fire Company Chief Mark Trace was not returned Monday.
Efforts to reach Assistant Deputy Fire Marshal Trooper Franklin Hershey and Fire Marshal Jeffrey Sarver were unsuccessful.
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