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You may notice a lot more front porch lights on around the Valley. It’s all in honor and support of Fresno Fire Captain Pete Dern.
Dern is in the hospital recovering from second and third degree burns he suffered when he was fighting a fire and fell thru a roof into a burning garage last Sunday. He remains in critical condition.
Many in the community want Dern to know he is not alone in his recovery. There is a campaign going around called "Lights On for Captain Pete Dern".
Allison McKoane is a close family friend to Dern. She said he is like a second father to her. She said she learned about the "Lights On" effort online, and had to jump on being a part of it.
"I got invited on Facebook by someone who started it. And we all we wanted to show our support to Pete because he’s our family too," said McKoane. She continued, "Today we hung up a light over the street. One giant light that will stay on 24-7 until he comes home."
Fire Captain William Veiga works out of Station 11, and said he has worked alongside Dern for nearly twenty years. A large "Lights On for Captain Pete Dern" sign adorns the outside of one of Station 11’s garage doors.
Veiga said, "Everyone, people have mentioned he’s trained most all of us, so he’s had an impact on all of our lives."
Seventy-percent of Dern’s body is burned, and 50-percent will require skin grafting. Veiga says hopes the lights from this simple campaign will brighten Dern’s spirit.
"It’s something that everybody can do from home, and it’s just a show of support for Captain Dern," said Veiga in regards to people turning on a light.
McKoane commented, "I hope he knows how many people are here for him and how many people love him. And he’s a hero to everybody, and that we’re all going to support him until he’s recovered."
There is a You Caring donation site that has been approved by the Dern family. The link is here. More than $ 115,000 has been raised thus far.
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