Scary Story from Wildfire Survivor

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Wildfire burn survivor recounts horror

 

01:15 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 21, 2009

 

By JASON WHITELY / WFAA-TVDALLAS – On the sixth floor of Parkland Hospital, Chris Quinn’s burns are bandaged but his mind is clear about what he survived eleven days ago.

“I just started running,” Quinn, 42, recollected. “I screamed in pain and said, ‘My God, I’m being burned alive.’”

On April 9, wildfires swept fast and ferocious across Montague County. Quinn lived there and cared for his mom Cathy and his dad Matt, a former WFAA news reporter in the 1980s.

At least twice before in recent years, Quinn said, he and his parents evacuated from wildfires. But, this time was different.

“We were planning on getting in the car and going,” he said. “I had my cat with me. So, I get out and start running towards the car. In like a second the flame is there.”

Flames moved faster than the Quinns expected. The blaze trapped his parents and offered Quinn only a moment to escape.

His arms were seared from shielding his face. From his ankles to his head, Quinn is recovering from second and third degree burns.

“The pain doesn’t really start kicking in until you start moving things around and touching things,” he said.

Quinn said doctors will remove his bandages on Tuesday to see how the skin grafts took to his body. He expects to have to go to a rehabilitation unit after leaving Parkland. But, his family said without insurance, it’s likely to get expensive fast.

Quinn praised heroic firefighters who never gave up despite being terribly outmanned.

He said he is also grateful for the family who rescued him as he ran from the flames. Confined to the burn unit, Quinn said he draws from his spiritual side now more than ever.

A fund has been set up to help pay Chris Quinn’s medical bills. Those who wish to donate can make a deposit in the name of Chris Quinn under the Wells Fargo account number 7809963981.