Jahwann McIntyre: Martin County firefighter critically burned last month faces long recovery

MARTIN COUNTY — The Martin County firefighter critically burned last month while battling a house fire has been moved from ICU at South Florida Hospital.

Jahwann McIntyre, 22, was removed from ICU and placed in a normal hospital room at Jackson Memorial Burn Unit in Miami, according to a posting on Martin County Firefighters' Facebook page.

"His spirits are good and he is keeping a great outlook," wrote Todd Tucker, vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2959, on Facebook.

McIntyre was burned on his hands, chin, thighs, abdomen and feet, totaling more than 40 percent of his body.

His recovery is expected to be a long and difficult one, and doctors estimate his hospital stay to be around 100 days.

The rookie firefighter was one of three firefighters injured Dec. 27 in the early-morning house fire at 1151 S.W. Bluewater Way in western Martin County.

A second injured firefighter was treated at the scene and a third was treated and released from Martin Medical Center. The identities of those firefighters from Station 23, 4181 S.W. Kanner Highway, or a cause of the fire had not been released.

This story will be updated.

McINTYRE BENEFIT

Where: Big Apple Pizza & Pasta, 2311 S. 35th St., Fort Pierce

When: 4 to 10 p.m. Jan. 30

What: All proceeds collected at the restaurant that night, including staff salaries and tips, will be donated to Jahwann McIntyre.

Donations can be sent to: Martin County Firefighters, P.O. Box 469, Palm City, Fla. 34991. Write Jahwann McIntyre in the memo line of the check.