Firefighters Step Up to Help Badly Burned Hampton Teen

Firefighters are known for going above and beyond on a call to extinguish a fire or help someone in need, although they don't often have the means to provide direct assistance to those impacted by the events that come long after the final sirens sound.

Those are the times when many individuals need help the most, which is why Hampton Firefighter Jason Newman said it's so fulfilling that they will soon be able to provide a substantial contribution to a local teenager "very significantly burned" in a recent incident at a home on Academy Avenue.

Newman, the chairperson for the local chapter of the International Association of FireFighters Burn Foundation, said Hampton firefighters will present the 17-year-old boy badly burned in that incident with a check for $2,000 on Thursday, Aug. 1, during a public ceremony at the Winnacunnet Road fire station.

"We do a lot of community events with the Burn Foundation... and very rarely do we get an opportunity to get something back to an individual who has had a tragic event like this," said Newman.

Newman said the boy recently came to the station because he was "looking to do community service." It was then that firefighters on duty realized it was the same teenager that was transported earlier this summer to a specialized burn center following a fire just blocks from the station.

Newman said it was only natural to try to help the "very good, wholesome" teen further his recovery, and he and other firefighters were "pretty excited" once they were able to secure permission from the IAFF to give the teen some of the locally-raised Burn Foundation funds.

Thursday's ceremony, which starts at 4:30 p.m., will the first time in at least a decade, if not longer, that Hampton firefighters have been able to direct Burn Foundation funds to a single Hampton individual injured in a fire, according to Newman.

Newman said there's strong awareness about local firefighters' efforts to help Hampton and Seacoast-area residents through the Burn Foundation — whether it be through Hampton's annual holiday toy bank, Chowdah Challenge, food drives or other events — although Newman said he also wants to get residents involved in Thursday's historic presentation because firefighters feel it will make a difference in the community. 

"There are so many positives for this right now," said Newman, stating that the fire itself wasn't a positive event. "We want the community to know that the events we do, your money is not going to waste, especially if we can do something local. [After collecting money from residents at] all of these things, we love that we’re able to kick back to the community."



[Editor's note: The name of the teen is being withheld due to possible conflicts with patient confidentiality laws. Hampton-North Hampton Patch couldn't reach the teen's parents for permission to use his name. Additional information about the teen and details about the fire in which he was injured will be added when it becomes possible to do so.]