CHEYENNE -- It's a story that 23-year-old Devin Barnhart's father says is a story about heroes.

Charlie Barnhart could say it's about tragedy, but this is a "cup half full" kind of story.

Devin graduated from Cheyenne's Central High in 2003. He was working on a degree in photography at Red Rocks Community College. He was an Eagle Scout.

"We dubbed him right off the bat as 'double-O-Devin,'" because he liked to play war games as a kid, said Dick Cordes of Cheyenne, the grandfather of one of Devin's childhood friends.

"He was a real good kid," he added.

Earlier this month, Devin visited a friend at a house in Littleton, Colo. His friend had just lost his mother to cancer, and Devin -- along with some other friends -- was going to console him.

Sometime early in the morning of Sunday, Aug. 3, the house caught fire.

The details are still uncertain, but the fire killed three people, including the young man who had just lost his mother.

Devin, apparently after escaping the fire, went back inside to find his missing friends.

Because Devin can't speak, he can't explain exactly what happened. But a neighbor arrived to find Devin burned from head to toe.

Within six minutes, Charlie said in a written statement to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, West Metro Fire arrived. The firefighters also are paramedics, and that saved critical time for Devin. They got him into an ambulance and to the hospital in minutes.

"The precision of lifesaving that firefighters practice every day makes them my heroes," Charlie wrote.

Devin told a paramedic he had to "run through a fireball," Charlie described. He had apparently thought about what he was about to do because he protected his eyes and lungs.

"Now that would be a tough decision to make when you're wearing summer clothes and flip-flops," Charlie wrote. "For that reason, Devin is our hero."

The Dickies shorts he was wearing were treated with fire retardant. That bit of luck, "literally saved his butt," Charlie wrote with a bit of unexpected optimism.

Devin is now at the University of Colorado Burn/Trauma Center's intensive care unit. He's in a medically induced coma. Machines are breathing for him.

"He's not allowed to move because of all of the trauma that his body is in," Charlie said.

He's covered head to toe in layers of gauze. His family is only able to see his eyes and his mouth.

On Friday, Devin underwent his third surgery, just to remove all the dead skin.

In about two weeks, doctors will be able to begin grafting his skin, which will require another four or five surgeries, as well as some "lab skin" made in a Boston laboratory, Charlie said.

"Behind the doors of a laboratory, there are more heroes creating yet another option for Devin's recovery," Charlie wrote.

He'll be unconscious for about two months and require another two months of rehabilitation.

Charlie doesn't have an estimate for how much the medical bills might be.

"I just call him my million-dollar boy, and I'm sure it's going to take that," he said.

With all the time in the ICU and rehabilitation, "there's no way it's not going to cost a million dollars," he said.

He's hoping insurance will pay the majority. His family can afford a few thousand dollars if they use their life savings.

The family reunion that was set to begin the day of the fire ended up taking place in the ICU waiting room, Charlie said.

And while they could wallow in the tragedy, Charlie said the family has a "cup half full" kind of mindset.

"The fact that Devin made it was the best thing about the whole situation," Charlie said.

It's going to be a tough road for Devin, however.

"I would like people to please stay with Devin, because it's going to be tough emotionally," Charlie said. "He needs continual support, because he's going to have a lot of emotional roller coasters."

Charlie also said he knows Devin can feel all the prayers he's being given and the presence of his friends, family and neighbors.

"He would like everyone to know that he can feel them, and he's using them to help him get better."

How you can help

To donate to the Devin Barnhart Recovery Fund, make checks payable to "Devin Barnhart Recovery Fund" and include the word "donation" on the check. Mail them to:

Devin Barnhart Recovery Fund, 6901 Valley View Place, Cheyenne, WY 82009-2556

or

US Bank, Westland Office, DN-CO-0169, 10395 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, CO 80215

Donations also can be dropped off at or mailed to any US Bank branch.