His face is scarred, he’s missing the tips of all 10 fingers and he has a long, difficult recovery ahead. But the young firefighter who survived last summer’s deadly Twisp River blaze said he’s grateful for the family, friends and community who have helped him pull through.
“This accident was a true tragedy, but it’s brought out what’s good in the world,” said Daniel Lyon Jr., 25.
He spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday since the accident that killed three others in the midst of Washington state’s worst fire season on record. Lyon was discharged from Harborview Medical Center nearly three months to the day after the Aug. 19 accident. He and three fellow firefighters were driving up a steep gravel road and crashed over a 40-foot embankment before they were overtaken by fire. Killed in the crash were Richard Wheeler, 31, Andrew Zajac, 26, and Tom Zbyszewski, 20, all dying of smoke inhalation and burns, according to a coroner’s report. It was the worst fatal wildfire incident in Washington since four firefighters were killed in the Thirtymile fire in nearby Chewuch River Canyon in July 2001.
“Those guys are the reason I’m here today,” Lyon said of his fallen friends. “Those guys were truly brothers to me.”
Lyon endured 11 surgeries, including several skin grafts. The tips of his fingers had to be amputated because his hands were so badly burned, said Dr. Nicole Gibran, director of the burn center.
He has scarring on his face, arms and legs from the skin grafts taken from his torso, back and scalp, Gibran said. He also suffers from contractures, a condition in which muscles shorten and harden, limiting movement.
On Wednesday, Lyon wore a Methow Valley Ranger District hat, black jacket and gloves over his hands, at times appearing a bit nervous before the cameras and reporters after his ordeal.