PORTLAND, Ore. — An injured Gresham firefighter was finally released from the hospital after more than three months of treatment. Spencer Tejedas suffered severe burns on more than 45% of his body while responding to a house fire in May.
Dozens of firefighters from Gresham and Portland cheered as Tejedas walked out of the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon. He’ll be moved to a rehabilitation facility for the next two to three weeks before returning home to his wife and their two boys.
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On May 30, Gresham firefighters responded to a fire at a duplex in Gresham. The blaze triggered a flashover, officials said, engulfing firefighters in flames. Three firefighters were injured, with two of them treated and released. Tejedas suffered severe burns. He was initially hospitalized in critical condition and remained there for more than three months.
“Firefighters did what firefighters do,” explained Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis. “You always know there’s a risk. You’re always putting your life on the line. He literally did.”
The investigation determined the house fire was accidental, caused by an unattended candle.