“Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors” rolled through the streets of Burbank recently collecting donations from companies such as Warner Brothers, Bob’s Big Boy, Disney, Pavilion’s Market, the Burbank Fire Department and the Bob Hope Fire Department. It was a collcetive effort to raise thousands of dollars to help burn survivors.
Burn injuries are devastating, and the majority take a lifetime to heal. The physical and emotional pain the victims suffer is something firefighters see on a regular basis. As a result, the organization “Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors” was founded in 1996 following the Southern California Malibu Brush Fire in which six firefighters were injured due to burns received while being entrapped in a firestorm.
Glendale Firefighter Bill Jensen, a Burbank Resident and a John Burroughs 1962 graduate, received the most serious life threatening burns sustaining third degree burns to 70% of his body. After three months of surgeries, care, and treatment and the miraculous efforts of those who cared for him, Bill beat the 5% chance of survival and was released from the burn center on his birthday. Today, Bill along with the other firefighters injured that day, are well on their way back to “normal” lives.
Bill and his wife Elaine Sue, a BHS class of 62 graduate, can be seen shopping at Pavilions several days a week as they only a live a couple of blocks from the store. He and store director Tom Fardig have become close friends. Pavilions collected $5,000.00 for this year’s rally.
“Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors” is a non-profit organization managed by firefighters and civilians who volunteer their services and are dedicated to assist those that have been affected by burn injuries.
The organization hosts several fund raisers throughout each year in which donations are received and distributed on behalf of each donor to local burn centers and foundations as well as burn survivors and their families.
Through Bill’s experience and that of other burn survivors, it has been noted that while the patients care and treatment is being managed and monitored by doctors and nurses, it is usually the families whose lives are thrown into disarray.
Given the efforts of this organization, support ranges from family and patient visits to providing material and/or monetary donations to the patients and/or immediate family to assist during the critical time of recovery.
To find out more about the organization, please call toll free (866) 937-8378 or visit www.firefightersquest.org/index.cfm?Section=1
