By Manny Fantis
WUSA9

WASHINGTON — A D.C. firefighter who sustained second- and third-degree burns over almost half of his body while battling a blaze is returning to work.

Chuck Ryan returned to work at a fire station in southeast early Wednesday morning.

Ryan was injured while fighting a fire at a house on 48th Place in northeast on April 8. He almost lost four fingers, and underwent a number of surgeries while hospitalized for seven weeks. Other firefighters were also injured in the fire, but Ryan injuries were the most extensive.

A man pleaded guilty last week to setting the fire on 48th Place, as well as other fires in the Washington area.

Republished with permission from WUSA9