Fort Worth firefighter credits Parkland burn staff for second chance
‘If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have lived’
What began as a routine house fire call on Sept. 3, 2025, quickly turned into a life-changing day for Fort Worth Firefighter Caleb Halvorson.
Caleb and fellow Station 11 firefighters were working to extinguish a house fire in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside neighborhood when the garage roof suddenly collapsed, crushing him under the debris. After one minute and 44 seconds, Caleb was pulled from the rubble and airlifted to the Parkland Memorial Hospital Burn Center for emergency treatment.
“It felt like 800 pounds immediately crushed me. I start praying out loud. I thought I was done,” he recalled. “You never think it’s going to happen to you. You put on all your gear and feel like a superhero. You feel invincible.”
Caleb spent 34 days in the hospital, receiving treatment for second and third-degree burns across his body, a severely dislocated knee and other injuries.
“I was thankful to be so close to Dallas because I know Parkland is the number one burn center in Texas, if not America,” he said. “Everyone, all the nurses were super diligent. They actually cared about me. It didn’t feel like it was just a job to them. You could tell they all loved being part of the burn unit.”
Haley Halvorson, Caleb’s wife, remained by his bedside throughout his stay. Though the recovery process was difficult, she says Parkland’s doctors and staff helped ease the ordeal with exemplary, compassionate care and constant communication.
“The doctors would let me join rounds so I could hear what their treatment plan was and understand the next steps. They would ask me if I had any concerns or wanted to do anything different. They truly involved me and let me advocate for Caleb, which was phenomenal,” she said. “It meant everything that they didn’t treat him like just another number on a chart, just another face who’s going to leave. In the hardest time of your life, it was nice to know that someone was fighting for you and doing what was right.”
Four days after Caleb was discharged from the hospital, the Halvorson’s celebrated another medical milestone: Hudson, their baby boy born at 27 weeks, was also released from a Fort Worth hospital after 112 days in the NICU.
“I thought when I saw him, I would start crying, but it was the opposite. I couldn’t stop smiling,” said Caleb. “Bringing our firstborn son home was a huge win that we really needed, emotionally, physically and spiritually.”
Caleb and Haley credit Parkland staff for making it possible for their family to be reunited at home in time for the holidays.
“I’m so thankful for Parkland and all the staff who helped me and my family,” said Caleb. “By far, this 2025 season has been incredibly hard, and without all of them, I don’t even know if I would have lived.”
“I can’t say thank you enough. This could be a totally different holiday season. I could be sitting here alone, but I’m not because of the care Parkland gave,” Haley added. “I will never be able to show the staff or say anything enough to say thank you. We’re full of gratitude not only that they’re home, but to everyone who was part of this journey.”
Established in 1962, Parkland’s Burn Center is the second-largest civilian burn center in the U.S., treating more than 2,200 patients each year. The center was recently reverified as both an adult and pediatric burn center by the American Burn Association – a distinction Parkland has maintained since 1996. Parkland also earned verification of its Burn Fellowship Program, one of only 11 in the nation, underscoring its leadership in advancing burn care.
For more information about Parkland’s Burn Center, visit www.parklandhealth.org/burn-unit.
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