Arcadia Firefighter Returns Home from Burn Unit; Recovering Welll



Capt. Tom Devlin’s son Graduates Fire Academy

By Terry Miller

On Dec. 26, 23-year-old Dylan Devlin, who was about to graduate Verdugo Fire Academy, received an early morning call from his dad who was in the hospital as a result of a multi-alarm call that didn’t go down as well as he’d hoped.

Dylan’s dad, Arcadia Fire Captain Thomas Devlin was calling to tell his son that he was fine and he loved everyone, but was in the Grossman Burn Unit in Sherman Oaks “after a call didn’t go as planned.”

When Dylan got the call he said his dad was “collected and focused.”

Arcadia Fire Captain Tom Devlin from Station 105 was called out on an early morning arson fire in Monrovia in the early hours of Dec. 26. The multi-alarm fire called in the troops from the Verdugo area to battle the intense, early morning warehouse fire.

As firefighters rushed to quell the blaze from spreading further, highly-trained attack teams and first responders attempted to put out the fully involved fire. Devlin, a 25 year veteran of the Arcadia Fire Department who made Captain almost a decade ago, was working the exterior of the building by a rollup door with a rotary saw.

Devlin noticed a huge amount of fire nearby and realized the fire was so intense that the supports for the overhangs near him were rapidly burning up. Within seconds, the whole overhang fell down and collapsed on Devlin, causing severe burns. “It felt like a ton of bricks coming down on me,” Devlin said.

Devlin’s helmet was knocked off his head by falling embers of the roof and he subsequently received second and third degree burns to his head, neck, and face. His son Dylan, who recently graduated the Fire Academy, said his dad “self-rescued” and asked guys on the hose line to spray water on him to alleviate the initial pain and shock. He was then was transported to Methodist and then the Grossman Burn Unit.

As far as this reporter is concerned, our area firefighters deserve nothing less than complete and utter respect and admiration for the work they do daily – amazing men and women who devote their lives as firefighters and paramedics. They see it all – from the routine medical calls to the horrific disasters that afflict our lives. They do it with grace, humility, and often deep sacrifice. So when the story about Arcadia Fire Captain Thomas Devlin came to light, it was particularly poignant.

What made this story so touching is that Devlin’s son was about to graduate the Verdugo Fire Academy and the proud father might not have been able to see his son graduate due to the severity of his second and third degree burns.



Miraculously, Devlin’s humor and good spirits got him through the initial stages of recovery – enough so that he could be with his son last Saturday to see him graduate in Glendale. 12 days in the hospital, three skin grafts, and a ton of support from the fire department, the community of Arcadia, as well friends and family helped Devlin get the emotional and medical support he needed, including special diets to speed the recovery process.

Devlin also gives a huge “thank you” to the staff at Grossman Burn unit for being so kind, professional, and helping him to heal faster than initially expected.

The proud, albeit emotional, Devlin spoke with Arcadia Weekly this past Monday morning.

We asked him what it felt like to attend his son’s firefighting academy graduation:

Devlin, fighting back the tears said “the idea of physically being present [at Dylan’s graduation] was truly overwhelming and emotional.”

“I’m just lucky to be alive; I’m so grateful to so many people.”

“Dylan has a huge heart … I would never try to persuade anyone to go into the fire department but Dylan’s heart and kindness make him the perfect candidate for the job – his heart is huge,” Tom Devlin said with deep passionate pride that only a father could possibly understand. He had to attend the graduation, no matter what.

Devlin has 20 years in the Arcadia fire family and this is the first serious injury he has ever received. “I’m always the one to promote safety as a Captain … and (laughs) Karma got me.”

Devlin also credits the steadfast support of his wife, Jackie, who has been “an unbelievable champ,” as well as the Firefighters’ Association who created a meal plan with the help of the hospital nutritionists’ guidelines.

Devlin has received hundreds of cards and letters from well-wishers in the San Gabriel Valley which deeply affected him. “Some people I’ve never met just wanted to wish me well. The support from this community has been overwhelming and I am forever grateful,” Devlin said.

What is next for this firefighting veteran of 20 years? Well, that is in the hands of the doctors whose care he is under. But for the time being, as an on-the-job injury, Devlin will be resting and recuperating at home until such time as he can go back to work, which, according to son Dylan, “won’t be soon enough.”

The veteran firefighter received literally hundreds of well-wishes from the community when the news first broke. In a perfect world, he’d like to thank each individually but obviously that would be impossible. Capt. Devlin hopes that everyone knows how very much he and his family have been “… deeply touched by their generosity.”