This is an old article that we found of our dad, Kevin Olsen who was a Provo Firefighter. He was a wonderfully talented man & this article is proof of how courageous he was. He responded to a house fire belonging to his own brother (also a firefighter) & rescued his nephew from nearly being burned alive. He graduated top of his Fire class, and was Provo City Firefighter of The Year. Kory took me to meet Kevin after we dated a few months-I was so nervous, but all my butterflies went out the door when I saw that Kevin was just like Kory in almost every way. We spent the whole afternoon together, watching childhood videos of Kory & Ryan, playing the drums, playing The Hulk video game (Kevin got a kick out of that one) and just getting to know each other. We saw Kevin in February & it was the last time that both Kory & I visited dad. It was my first and unknowningly my last visit. Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep of heart disease at home in March 2004, St. Patricks day . He had a heartfelt funeral full of good friends and family who all had a funny memory of dad. His burial was fit for a hero - a procession escorted by the police & fire dept. and a radio broadcast annouced by the dispatcher honoring one of their own while we laid dad to rest. I was just thinking about dad & how much we miss him, especially during this part of the year - His 4 year anniversary is coming up in a few weeks & we will be visiting dads grave for the first time this year.
HOUSE FIRE HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR PROVO FIREFIGHTERS
By Daivd Farnworth, Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, Aug. 20, 1992 12:00 a.m. MDT
The call to a house fire Wednesday with a child trapped inside was a firefighter's nightmare. The horror deepened when crews realized they were responding to the home of one of their own.
But the incident was particularly emotional for firefighter Kevin Olsen. The burning home was owned by Kevin Olsen's brother, Steve Olsen, who's also a Provo firefighter but was away on vacation.Kevin Olsen found Tyler Barton, Steve Olsen's 3-year-old stepson, in a smoke-filled basement and carried him to safety.
Tyler remains in critical condition with respiratory problems and burns he suffered while trapped in the burning home at 2366 N. 1070 East.
Tyler received burns over more than 50 percent of his body while firefighters frantically searched for him. They said there was absolutely no visibility in the basement when they arrived.
Firefighters recognized the address as Steve Olsen's home as soon as dispatchers received the 911 call. Olsen and his wife were at Lake Powell when the fire occurred.
"Before we left the station, we knew whose house we were going to," said Mike Bledsoe, assistant Provo fire chief. "It's real hard on the firefighters when it's one of their own.
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"When the first report said a child was still in the house, our first efforts were directed in search and rescue," he said. "It's really an unusual situation, to have your brother find your boy."
When Tyler was located, he was conscious but confused, suffering from burns and extreme smoke inhalation. He was rushed to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and later flown to the University of Utah Intermountain Burn Center.
Tyler and his two brothers, John and Zachary, were at the family home with a baby sitter when the fire started about 3:30 p.m. The other two boys were taken to their grandfather's home as soon as firefighters arrived on the scene.
"I did get a report this morning that Tyler is doing pretty good," Bledsoe said Thursday. "But the next 48 hours, according to the burn center, will be the most critical for him."
Bledsoe said Tyler had no thermal burns to his lungs but did inhale a lot of smoke.
The emotional turmoil for firefighters continued when authorities had difficulty locating the boys' parents at Lake Powell. The U.S. Coast Guard was called on to help search for the couple. They were finally found late Wednesday evening and were flown to Salt Lake City to be with their son.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials say they aren't sure how Tyler was burned.
"He may have smelled smoke and gone down there," Bledsoe said. "We may never know unless he tells us someday.
Bledsoe said firefighters don't suspect any fault on the part of the baby sitter. "It's just one of those situations where kids were there and everybody thought they knew where everybody else was."
Any incident where children are injured is tough for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
"We've been on a real emotional roller coaster all day over here," said a Provo dispatcher.
Bledsoe said the city calls in psychologists to help officers deal with the stress when an incident hits close to home.
"It's a talk session done by professional psychologists," Bledsoe said. "The first session is mandatory, and then they can get personal help if that's the case."
By Daivd Farnworth, Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, Aug. 20, 1992 12:00 a.m. MDT
The call to a house fire Wednesday with a child trapped inside was a firefighter's nightmare. The horror deepened when crews realized they were responding to the home of one of their own.
But the incident was particularly emotional for firefighter Kevin Olsen. The burning home was owned by Kevin Olsen's brother, Steve Olsen, who's also a Provo firefighter but was away on vacation.Kevin Olsen found Tyler Barton, Steve Olsen's 3-year-old stepson, in a smoke-filled basement and carried him to safety.
Tyler remains in critical condition with respiratory problems and burns he suffered while trapped in the burning home at 2366 N. 1070 East.
Tyler received burns over more than 50 percent of his body while firefighters frantically searched for him. They said there was absolutely no visibility in the basement when they arrived.
Firefighters recognized the address as Steve Olsen's home as soon as dispatchers received the 911 call. Olsen and his wife were at Lake Powell when the fire occurred.
"Before we left the station, we knew whose house we were going to," said Mike Bledsoe, assistant Provo fire chief. "It's real hard on the firefighters when it's one of their own.
Story continues below
"When the first report said a child was still in the house, our first efforts were directed in search and rescue," he said. "It's really an unusual situation, to have your brother find your boy."
When Tyler was located, he was conscious but confused, suffering from burns and extreme smoke inhalation. He was rushed to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and later flown to the University of Utah Intermountain Burn Center.
Tyler and his two brothers, John and Zachary, were at the family home with a baby sitter when the fire started about 3:30 p.m. The other two boys were taken to their grandfather's home as soon as firefighters arrived on the scene.
"I did get a report this morning that Tyler is doing pretty good," Bledsoe said Thursday. "But the next 48 hours, according to the burn center, will be the most critical for him."
Bledsoe said Tyler had no thermal burns to his lungs but did inhale a lot of smoke.
The emotional turmoil for firefighters continued when authorities had difficulty locating the boys' parents at Lake Powell. The U.S. Coast Guard was called on to help search for the couple. They were finally found late Wednesday evening and were flown to Salt Lake City to be with their son.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials say they aren't sure how Tyler was burned.
"He may have smelled smoke and gone down there," Bledsoe said. "We may never know unless he tells us someday.
Bledsoe said firefighters don't suspect any fault on the part of the baby sitter. "It's just one of those situations where kids were there and everybody thought they knew where everybody else was."
Any incident where children are injured is tough for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
"We've been on a real emotional roller coaster all day over here," said a Provo dispatcher.
Bledsoe said the city calls in psychologists to help officers deal with the stress when an incident hits close to home.
"It's a talk session done by professional psychologists," Bledsoe said. "The first session is mandatory, and then they can get personal help if that's the case."
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