Family of Burned Teen 'Can't Thank' Firefighters, Community Enough for 'Everything'

The family of Bryce Parker says they are immeasurably appreciative of all the community support they've received since Parker suffered severe burns while attempting to stop his garage from going up in flames in May.

Parker, 17, a Hampton resident and a Winnacunnet High School cross-country runner, was in his Academy Avenue garage working on his moped on May 31 when gas spilled and somehow caught fire.

Lisa Parker, Bryce's mother, said the fire traveled up to the moped, which prompted Bryce to quickly lift the moped and carry it out of the garage out of fear that the gas tank could explode and ignite the large pile of firewood stored in the garage.

Bryce suffered second- and third-degree burns on 14 percent of his body, including third-degree burns on his left arm, left hand and the full circumference of his right thigh, and second-degree burns on his right calf, according to his mother. 

The Hampton Fire Department quickly responded on May 31 and transported Bryce to Exeter Hospital, where he was later flown to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston, Mass.

The fire department's assistance didn't stop there, though. Firefighter Jason Newman has told Patch that Hampton firefighters will contribute $2,000 directly to the Parker family to help with Bryce's ongoing medical bills, which the Community Oven — where Bryce works — and many residents have already helped offset through a Community Mondays fundraiser.  

Lisa Parker said she's "very flattered" that the support has come, even if she and Bryce are "a little uncomfortable" accepting the money because they're "givers" and feel others may be more deserving. That doesn't lessen the level of appreciation the Parkers have for the way the community has rallied around Bryce, though.

"It's not just our close family or friends, but everywhere people are asking me how Bryce is and people are contributing with thoughts and prayers," said Lisa. "It is amazing how when something like this happens it can show you how great a town you live in and how great the people are who live in it."

Firefighters will present Bryce Parker with a $2,000 check on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 4:30 p.m. at the Winnacunnet Road fire station, which is fitting because the station served as the setting for the beginning of the idea to contribute money directly to Bryce, according to Newman.

Bryce had gone to the station not long after his three-week stint at Shriners, where he received xenographs on his hand and arm and skin graphs on his leg, to see if he could volunteer for community service.

The teen annually volunteers with the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival with his family and helps out during Smuttynose-sponsored road races, and the idea to donate some time to a department that helped him was something that fit into his family's strong sense of volunteerism, according to Lisa Parker.

Volunteering even stopped Bryce from being able to comment as a part of this story, as he was in the middle of helping a neighbor pick up a refrigerator in Bartlett, a town just outside of North Conway, on Tuesday.

Hampton firefighters say they were struck by the teen's mindset, which is why they wanted to try and allocate some of the locally-raised International Association of Firefighters Burn Foundation funds to him.

The Parkers aren't sure if they'll actually keep the money, as Lisa said they may "give it back" in some way to Shiners to help others in need. She did say they may save a portion of it to pay for unforeseen medical bills for Bryce.

Lisa Parker said it "took a long time" for Bryce to recover from his injuries to this point, although she said he has resumed most of his favorite activities. Bryce must wear a compression brace for one year as he recovers, although he has been given permission to resume physical activities like running and swimming — the latter carrying a stipulation that he cannot swim in ponds or lakes and must wear a wetsuit while in the ocean due to some open wounds still on his body.

"If you saw him in town, you wouldn't know it save for a slight limp in his walk," said Lisa Parker of her son's progress. "He's doing really well."

More information about the firefighters' contribution to Bryce Parker can be found here.