Sacramento Fire Captain Faces Surgery After Suffering Burns

A Sacramento fire captain today is facing the possibility that he must have surgery for burns he suffered fighting a Natomas house fire Tuesday.

Capt. Jeffery Helvin, 39, is in serious but stable condition at UC Davis Medical Center’s burn unit this morning. He suffered serious burns to one hand and burns to his neck and face, said Capt. Jim Doucette.

“It’ll just take some rehabilitation and surgery,” Doucette said.

Three other firefighters were injured in the blaze. Bruce Gee, 26, Christopher Berquist, 30, and Eric Ely, 24, all suffered superficial burns. They were treated at the hospital Tuesday and sent home the same day, Doucette said.

“One of them even wanted to come back to work yesterday,” he said.

The four firefighters were hurt while battling a two-alarm blaze at about 9:30 a.m. at a home on Stilt Court. They had gone upstairs to quell the spreading fire when the flames quickly intensified, Doucette said.

“It sounds like they got caught in some kind of ‘flashover,’ ” he said, referring to the term for an explosive ignition of a room’s contents — carpet, paint on the walls and furniture, for example.

“At least one or two of (the firefighters) jumped out of the windows, and the others made it down the stairway,” Doucette said.

Doucette said cause of the fire is undetermined, though it is thought to have started in the kitchen. No one was home when the fire began.

Damage to the house is estimated to be at least $150,000, he said.

Doucette said the fire department is investigating why the fire intensified to quickly, in hopes of preventing firefighter injuries.

“We could have lost four guys instantly yesterday,” he said.

Cards and well-wishes for the Helvin and the other firefighters can be sent to: Capt. Jeff Helvin, Sacramento Fire Department, 5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 200, Sacramento, 95822.

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