Delaware firefighter improving after critical injury sends him to burn center

A Delaware firefighter critically injured during a Mill Creek house fire on Thursday was upgraded to fair condition Friday morning.

Dave Smiley Jr., a 23-year-old rescue captain for Minquas Fire Company, sustained burns on 10 percent of his body after falling through the second floor while fighting the blaze, according to updates posted by family on Facebook.

Smiley is a career fireman with the Lebanon City Fire Department in Pennsylvania, according to his Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Smiley was in critical condition when taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. By Friday morning, hospital spokesman Rich Leonowitz said Smiley had been upgraded to fair. 

Leonowitz had no further details as to when Smiley might be released. 

THURSDAY'S FIRE: Firefighter has 'a long recovery ahead' after blaze at Mill Creek home

"During the operation, the floor collapsed and David fell through the floor from the second floor to the first floor," Smiley's father posted on Facebook. "He sustained 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns on approximately 10 percent of his body.

"His burns are on his ankles, hands, neck, ears, stomach and back. He is currently intubated and medicated to keep him comfortable until he can have his airway assessed. David is in for a long road of recovery. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers." 

His father, David Smiley Sr., a former fire chief from Pennsylvania, posted late Thursday that his son had woken and was speaking. 

Multiple fire companies responded to the blaze, which was reported about 8 a.m. Nobody was in the house at the time of the fire, Mill Creek Fire Company Chief Joseph Stewart Sr. said.

A cat was rescued, and Stewart, clearly emotional about the injured firefighter, said was the only good news of the day. 

The State Fire Marshal's Office has determined that the fire was accidental. It originated in the first-floor laundry room and was caused by an electrical/mechanical malfunction in the dryer, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Fox said in a press release. 

The fire caused an estimated $250,000 in damage.

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.