Firefighter’s Family Says Thanks

The family of William Jensen, the only firefighter injured in last month’s Calabasas-Malibu blaze who is still hospitalized, thanked well-wishers from all over the world Wednesday for their generosity and support of the veteran Glendale fireman.

Sitting outside the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital, where the 52-year-old firefighter is still in serious condition, Jensen’s family spoke for the first time, saying the outpouring of support from the public has strengthened their family during the past five weeks.

“There are so many people to thank,” said Jensen’s wife, Sue. “Those who have brought in meals, sent cards, given blood and written letters. We’ll never be able to thank you all personally, but please know that we are saying thank you to each of you today.”

Two huge poster boards signed by hundreds of sympathetic people at the Glendale Galleria served as a backdrop while the immediate members of the firefighter’s family, including two sons and a daughter-in-law, spoke to reporters.

Although unable to be present himself, Jensen’s wife said her husband sent a personal word of thanks.

“Bill may not know exactly the magnitude of support he has received,” his wife said. “But I can tell you that he has felt the positive vibes and that it has helped.”

The burn center’s medical director, Dr. A. Richard Grossman, estimated that Jensen will be hospitalized six to eight more weeks, meaning he will not be home for the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays. But his family plans to bring piping hot turkey and other traditional Thanksgiving dishes to his hospital room today.

Jensen is now able to sit up and converse with his family, who have set up living arrangements in a trailer just outside the hospital. He remains in the intensive care unit, but next week, if all goes as expected, he will be moved to a two-bedroom facility where his family can be closer to him, Grossman said.

The veteran firefighter suffered second- and third-degree burns to more than 70% of his body while battling flames near houses in Corral Canyon during the Oct. 22 Calabasas-Malibu brush fire. Three other firefighters injured in the blaze have been released from the hospital.

So far, Grossman said, Jensen has undergone six operations. The most serious injury is to Jensen’s left hand, which was burned to the muscles and tendons. In coming weeks, Grossman said he will try to repair Jensen’s hand through a complicated procedure in which he will sew the hand into a pouch in Jensen’s abdomen, allowing the hand to regrow healthy tissues naturally to create a base of flesh for later skin grafts. Then, after a few weeks, the hand will be removed from the flap in the abdomen.

But even if the hand surgery is successful, Grossman says Jensen will probably lose about half the use of the hand.

“Until he can walk out of here and drive home, his health is of great concern,” Grossman said.

Glendale Fire Chief Richard Hinz said he is confident that his friend of more than 30 years will recover and be back out fighting fires.

“He has become legendary for his mental and physical strength,” Hinz said. “He is one of the most powerful men I have ever seen.”