Burned Over!

The Survival of Montana Firefighter Dan Steffensen

By: A.J. Otjen

Narrated by: Andy Pearson

In 2021, Montana firefighter Dan Steffensen tried to outrun a 60 mile-an-hour wall of fire. But it overcame him, burning over 60% of his body. He should have died. The citizens of Red Lodge, Montana needed him and prayed for his life. Three more tragedies hit his hometime that "Summer of Hell". Through interviews and research, author A.J. Otjen tells this inspiring story of first responders, doctors, loved ones, his community, fellow firefighters, and Dan's own internal battle to live or die.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 A.J.Otjen (P)2024 Steffensen/Otjen

Riveting A compelling story

The details were paced well with the drama The characters were brought to life I could really see myself in Montana. Balancing technical and personal: The book provided technical information on firefighting and burn recovery while also conveying personal stories and community impact
Sensitivity to trauma: Otjen navigated the challenging terrain of discussing Dan's traumatic experience and recovery process with compassion and understanding
Building trust: Developing the necessary trust between author and subject to tell an informative and engaging story required patience and persistence
Comprehensive research: Otjen conducted extensive background work to fully capture the story
Capturing multiple perspectives: The book not only focused on Dan's experience but also incorporated the stories of first responders, doctors, and community members, requiring Otjen to weave together multiple narratives, and synthesizing diverse accounts into a coherent narrative.
Emotional intensity: The book deals with a traumatic event - a firefighter being severely burned while battling a wildfire. Engaging with such intense and potentially distressing material over an extended period could have been emotionally challenging for the author.
The author successfully weaves together multiple tragic events while maintaining a clear narrative thread, a very complex task.
1. Sensitivity to the subject: Writing about a real person's near-death experience and recovery required a great deal of sensitivity and careful handling of personal information.
2. Technical accuracy: Describing firefighting techniques, medical procedures, and the nature of wildfires accurately required careful research and possibly consultation with experts in these fields.

An Education About Bravery

After the LA Fires, this book took on new meaning. “Burned Over!” is an inspiring testament to human resilience, the strength of community, and the indomitable spirit of a firefighter who faced unimaginable odds and emerged victorious.