NL Firefighters Burn Foundation seeks to ease burden for victims

Renee Ghent had never heard of the New London Firefighters Burn Foundation until about a year ago when her husband, a volunteer firefighter in Portland, was seriously injured.

Responding to a report of a propane leak at a duplex, Todd Ghent suffered second- and third-degree burns on his face, neck and head when a propane gas tank exploded.

Ghent said her husband was homebound and out of work for several months while recovering.

"The chief in Portland said there's an organization in New London that wants to help in any way they can," Ghent said. "I was so touched. They are halfway across the state and they cared enough to ask if we needed help."

Ghent said the foundation paid to fill their oil tank.

Ghent was so moved by the gesture that this past August the family's annual backyard bash was used to raise money for the foundation. The Ghents' friends and relatives raised $6,100.

"They are great people and a great organization," Ghent said.

Bridget A. Yuknat, a fire inspector and board member of the New London Firefighters Burn Foundation, said the organization helps all burn victims, not just firefighters, throughout the state.

The idea for the foundation came about 16 years ago when two New London firefighters volunteered at The Children's Burn Camp in Union. The firefighters were so inspired that they came back and expressed to their colleagues their desire to help burn victims and their families.

The foundation became an official nonprofit in 2004, making it only one of two burn foundations in the state run by firefighters. The other is in Stratford.

"We're firefighters," Yuknat said. "It's in our nature to help people. It's what we do. "

The foundation has four main goals: to assist burn survivors and their families; educate the public in burn prevention; aid in burn research; and support other organizations that help burn victims, in particular the Children's Burn Camp.

"Every penny raised goes towards these four goals," she said.

The fund has assisted with the purchase of wigs, medical dressings and food. They also have helped families pay their rent and for train tickets and car rentals.

"We're here just to get them over that hump," Yuknat said.

The foundation is also involved in the creation of a family suite at the Burn Unit at Bridgeport Hospital, which will allow families to stay with their injured loved ones.

Yuknat said about 50 percent of the firefighters have agreed to a weekly $1 payroll deduction for the next two years to support that effort. The money that the Ghents raised also went directly to that effort.

"You usually only see firefighters on a bad day when there is a fire," Yuknat said, "... but we want to do more than that. Wherever there is need, we will try to help the best we can."

i.larraneta@theday.com