California firefighter injured battling Silverado Fire released from hospital after 114 days, 17 surgeries

A Southern California firefighter who suffered critical burns in October and spent months in recovery was wheeled out of the hospital Wednesday to raucous applause.

Dylan Van Iwaarden, 26, spent 114 days in the Orange County Burn Center in Santa Ana after narrowly escaping flames while battling the Silverado Fire, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Dylan Van Iwaarden, an Orange County Fire Authority hand crew firefighter, is wheeled on a gurney as he leaves the Orange County Global Medical Center. (Leonard Ortiz/)

“It was a tragic event, but I’m getting better and I’m gonna be back there and excited to help serve citizens again of Orange County,” Van Iwaarden said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Van Iwaarden was placed into a medical coma immediately after the fire after receiving burns to 65% of his body. He has since undergone 17 surgeries and is expected to need lengthy physical therapy.

Van Iwaarden spent 114 days in the Orange County Burn Center. (Leonard Ortiz/)

“I think it is remarkable and a lot of it is the nurses and the staff and Dylan himself,” Dr. Andrea Dunkleman, medical director of OC Burn Center, said at the press conference.

Another firefighter, 31-year-old Phi Le, was also injured badly in the blaze. He is still recuperating, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The Silverado Fire spread more than 13,000 acres and drove 90,000 people from their homes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.