Engulfed by 800 degree flames and having his naked body wrapped in glad wrap are vivid memories Graeme Hill will never forget. Nearly four years after receiving his life changing injuries he talks about what happened and what he still endures.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 ended up being unlucky for two New Plymouth Senior Firefighters. Graeme Hill, 34, and his shift partner Sam Julian, 31, entered a Lepperton chicken shed to put out a fire when a flashover fire exploded engulfing them in flames.
Graeme was thrown to the ground by the blast gaining his first serious ‘on the job’ injuries from 19 years service. He received second and third degree burns to 20-30% of his body, requiring skin grafts on his bottom, back, legs, arms and hands. He spent three weeks in the burns unit at Waikato Hospital before spending a further 26 months recuperating. He was finally able to return to work on December 23, 2012.
“Sam is a very talented firefighter. His ability to work well under pressure proved to be a very handy asset that day,” says Graeme.
“He led the way to exit the building in nasty and extremely hot conditions.”
“It went from pitch black to daylight as we managed to pop out the other side of the wall. One second we were inside, the next we were out.”
As he removed his level 2 structure kit – jacket, helmet, breathing apparatus, etc, the seriousness of his injuries became apparent.
“I got a good view of my skin hanging off my fingers on both hands and down my arm. I sort of looked at all that and thought ‘oh this is a bit more serious than I thought.’
Graeme’s ever present humour kicks in and says ‘Everyone picks on a ginga – even fires do,’ as he bursts into laughter.
The men were rushed to New Plymouth Base Hospital. Sam Julian suffered burns to his bottom, back, shoulders and hands and spent 11 weeks recuperating at home before returning to work Christmas Eve 2010.