One of the D.C. firefighters injured in last week's rowhouse fire is speaking publicly about his ordeal for the first time, and it's a story you will only see on ABC 7/NewsChannel 8. "Every day I go to work, I know that there's a chance that I might not come home," says 23-year-old Kenneth Humphries. "But that's what I signed up to do."

Humphries was one of four firefighters burned in the October 29th blaze in the 600 block of 4th Street Northeast. He and 37-year-old Michael Lacore, 30-year-old Charlie Shyab and 27-year-old Doug Donnelly were standing on a balcony in a next-door unit battling the fire.

Investigators believe oily rags left on a balcony spontaneously combusted, triggering a fire fueled by a propane tank that quickly engulfed the home next door. The flames traveled up the stairs, trapping the firefighters.

The men literally had to run through the fire to escape.

"I knew if we got down the steps we could get out," said Humphries  "We ran through the flames, through the fire."

Humphries suffered second-degree burns on his arm, hand, and waist. But other firefighters were more seriously injured.

Sergeant Michael Lacore suffered second- and third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body. Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma to help his recovery. His status was upgraded to serious on Wednesday. He is now conscious and breathing on his own.

Charlie Shyab suffered burns over 30 percent of his body; he remains in fair condition.

"I know they're going to pull through, God willing, and they'll be ready to go back and do it again," says Humphries.

Doctors tell Humphries he has two and a half months of recovery ahead of him. But he has no doubts he will be back on the job as soon as he can.

"You see us... whenever the bells call us, we're ready to go."