Otjen and Steffensen Release Book on Harrowing Experience, Resilience and Recovery
"I tell the story not for me, but for those who have helped me"--Dan Steffensen
By Denise Rivette
On sale today is AJ Otjenās new book on Red Lodge firefighter Dan Steffensen, Burned Over: The Survival of Montana Fireman Dan Steffensen. It will be available after 1:00 p.m. at Beartooth Books in Red Lodge and area retailers. It is also available online through Amazon and at other bookstores nationwide.
On an unexpectedly warm day at the end of April, I met with A.J. Otjen and Dan Steffensen to discuss their new book, Burned Over!, hitting bookstore shelves today. Burned Over! is a stirring read about Danās life before and after his experience in the 2021 Harris Fire. As we sat down in the Fort Rockvale restaurant where Dan and AJ often met to work on the book, they shared that an article I wrote on a childrensā book written by A.J. and illustrated by Kevin Red Star was what brought them together. Dan read the article and called A.J. to ask her to tell his story. A.J. was very unsure she was the right person for the job as she had only written childrensā books at that point. Dan was just as sure she was exactly the right person and, though he didnāt always enjoy the process, heās pleased with the resulting book and the deep trust and friendship formed with A.J. during the often painful process.
The book is a deeply moving exploration of the physical, mental and emotional life experiences of a man who has lived a full life in addition to living through the event firefighters fear most: a burnover. A burnover is an event in which a fire moves through a location or overtakes personnel or equipment with no opportunity to utilize escape routes and safety zones.
The burnover that injured Dan occurred during the Harris Fire near Joliet in Carbon County, Montana on July 16, 2021 and resulted in burns over 60% of Danās body, leaving him fighting for his life. Because of Danās innate courage (including his determination to work with an author with no experience in the genre), a story that could have been a technical recounting of a fire and medical recovery is, instead, an intensely emotional example of the power of commitment, love and community in addition to providing technical information on both firefighting and burn recovery.
In the book, Dan, with AJās help (and sometimes dogged persistence to dig deeper) shares not only the physical and mental challenges he endured but also the connections made and communities built. These include reconnection with blood family as well as new and strengthened ties with Carbon County first responders; Red Lodge, Carbon County and Montana citizens; Utahās Unified Fire Authority, their Honor Guard and support systems; the greater Burn Community; and Firefighters across the state, nation and world.
A.J. and Dan began working on the book with Dan providing the factual aspects of his life, the fire and recovery. Dan is great at relating facts, and at first the process went smoothly. But he wasnāt so great at opening up about his personal experiences or feelings. A.J. felt the book needed more and so she pushed Dan to open up. This was in no way a smooth process, but Dan had chosen his author well and, with compassion, patience and understanding, they developed the trust between them needed to tell an informative and engaging story.
When asked how he views the Harris Fire burnover now, Dan said, āI would rather it happened to me than one of my brothers.ā That is not just the statement of a brave man who fights fire; that is the statement of a man who identifies as a firefighter and is devoted to being the best firefighter he can be. When he was in the Billings Clinic emergency room, he told a doctor, āIf you knew what Iāve been through in my life, youād know Iām not afraid to die.ā He wouldnāt know until much later how many people were afraid to lose him.
Many of those burned as badly as Dan do not survive. Recovery is painful, and maintenance of burned skin and grafts requires multiple daily routines be adhered to faithfully. Dan reflected on what it takes to recover from severe burn injuries. āBurn survivors have to have a powerful reason to recover,ā relenting to that much pain and damage is the bodyās natural response. Being stubborn was helpful. Many said he would never go back to firefighting. That just spurred him on and his response was, āWatch me.ā He got up every morning reinforcing his reason for recovery by saying āIām gonna be a firefighter.ā When I posited āBecause thatās what you do?,ā he said, āNo, because thatās who I am. My only regret is that I started too late in life.ā
Recovery is an ongoing and daily challenge that Dan meets with equal parts courage and humility. Burned and grafted skin doesnāt work the same as undamaged skin. He has to moisturize his skin twice a day and stretch it to keep the skin flexible. Dan knows itās going to be a good day if when he wakes up he can purse his lips enough to whistle, some days it takes moisturizing and stretching exercises to be able to produce a sound.
Dan is looking forward to this fire season and being back on the fireline for the first time since the Harris Fire. He worked hard to get back to fighting fires and hopes this is not his last fire season as a firefighter; but if it is, he has more to offer his communities. He is a beacon of hope for the burn community. He is a stalwart supporter of firefighters everywhere and, especially the work of Utahās Unified Fire Authority. He continues to serve his Carbon County community with his work through Red Lodge Fire and Rescue. His family, by blood and marriage, continues to nourish and be nourished by him.
The official launch and signing event with both Dan Steffensen and A.J. Otjen will be at the Roosevelt Center in Red Lodge, Montana on June 15th. Books will be sold at the event by Beartooth Books starting at 7:00 pm. There will be a short presentation, opportunity to chat with Dan and A.J. and refreshments. For books purchased prior to the event, Dan and A.J. will begin signing those at 5:00 pm. Burned Over: The Survival of Montana Fireman Dan Steffensen by A.J. Otjen is being published by Sweetgrass Books, a division of Farcountry Press. The retail price is $19.99.