WASHINGTON - One Prince George's County firefighter opened his Christmas presents Friday night after spending his holiday in Washington Hospital Center's burn unit.

Firefighter Kevin Weems, of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department, suffered second-degree burns on his hands and burns to his ears and thigh while helping to put out a house fire in Landover Hills Christmas Eve.

Paramedics transported him to the burn unit, where he was released Friday afternoon. His fellow firefighters drove him home in a fire truck.

"I'm glad to be getting out," he said. 

Weems' injuries will require continued physical therapy before he is able to return to full duty. But he says it coul;d have been much worse.

"Just the minor burns I have to my hands, I couldn't imagine going through some of the more serious injuries that firefighters are possibly even succumbing to," Weems said. "It's just incredibly painful."

Weems was one of thirty firefighters who responded to a blaze in the 5100 block of Flintridge Drive. Firefighters got the blaze under control in about 15 minutes.

The fire displaced two families and killed two family dogs. The fire, which caused $80,000 in damage, appears to have originated in the basement, officials said. The cause remains under investigation.

 

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