Hospitalized firefighter from Caldor Fire returns home

(SACRAMENTO)

After 30 days of hospitalization, volunteer firefighter Richard Gerety received a hero’s homecoming when he was discharged from UC Davis Medical Center today.

Richard Gerety returns home from the hospital via fire truck.
Richard Gerety returns home from the hospital via fire truck.

Members of his firefighter family from Stanislaus Fire Protection District surprised him with a fire truck to take him back home to Patterson in style.

Richard was battling the Caldor Fire in August, when he fell into a stump hole filled with hot ash. The 31-year-old volunteer firefighter was severely burned on both hands, his legs and his stomach. He required repeated skin grafts.

Gerety said that his doctors and nurses at UC Davis were a 10 out of 10.

“I knew he was in good care. I can’t thank UC Davis enough for everything they have done. It’s amazing what they are capable of doing,” said Jeff Gregory, fire chief of the Stanislaus Fire Protection District.

Gerety was all smiles as he left the hospital, eager to return home to his wife Jennifer and 2-year-old son.

“Today is an important day and it’s a very good day. Richard has been here 30 days exactly. It’s time for him to come home and be with his family,” Gregory said.

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