Merced firefighters rally behind injured Fresno fire captain

Merced firefighters are rallying behind a Fresno fire captain who was injured earlier this week when he fell through the roof of a burning garage.

Pete Dern, 49, was badly burned Sunday and likely will require more than a dozen surgeries in the coming weeks and months, according to Merced Battalion Chief Billy Alcorn.

“Firefighters up and down California are all pitching in, doing whatever they can to help him and his family,” Alcorn said Thursday. “Here in Merced, we’re organizing a blood drive and asking our community to get involved.”

According to the Fresno Bee, Dern suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 65 percent of his body, as well as inhalation injuries after falling into the burning home on Cortland Avenue in Fresno.

Alcorn said Merced firefighters have teamed with BloodSource to donate as much blood and plasma as possible for the injured fire captain.

BloodSource in Merced is open today from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and closed for lunch from 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. It is at 382 E. Yosemite Ave. To schedule an appointment, call (866) 822-5663.

Additionally, the city of Merced on April 10 will host a one-day blood drive from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sam Pipes room in City Hall, 678 W. 18th St., Alcorn said.

Financial donations for Dern and his family can be made at the YouCaring fundraising page.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Merced firefighters rally behind injured Fresno fire captain."