Firefighters raise money for injured colleague

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- South Florida firefighters are coming together after one of their own was badly burned on the job.

From North Florida to the Keys, numerous friends, colleagues and strangers converged on Miami Beach to wash cars for a firefighter recovering from burns on over 50 percent of his body. "Our family is just overwhelmed with how strong the brotherhood is," said Latoya McIntyre-Berry.

Mcintyre-Berry said her brother Jahwaan Mcintyre is improving after getting trapped in a house fire in Stuart last week. Fellow firefighters answered the distressed call and investigators said the fire is suspicious.

The home has been empty for weeks and the homeowner wishing he could trade places with the injured firefighter. "Thank God I wasn't in the house. I would've rather been in it than the young kid that got hurt," said Aaron Grosko.

A co-worker described the young firefighter as a very special person who pursued his dream of becoming firefighter since the age of 17.

Mcintyre volunteered for the Martin County Department for a year before getting hired a year ago. "He's funny, he's smart, he's intellectual, he's hardworking, he's kind, he's genuine, wholesome and kind, and an amazing person to know," said Renzo Urzola.

Miami Beach High School hosted a car wash fundraiser, with every penny of the donations going to help Mcintyre with his recovery at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Burn Unit. "He was burned, pretty bad burns. Luckily we put him in a good hospital near Miami. So far he's been excibated from what we heard and on the road to recovery," said Miami Beach Firefighter Michael Saavedra.

McIntyre-Berry is so grateful that local firefighters and volunteers are pitching in to help her brother. "It's truly been a blessing that all the firefighters and volunteers and everybody across the country has shown us so much love," she said.

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