Survivor of San Marcos fire awarded for service, dedicates life to helping others

A San Angelo resident was recently honored for his yearlong service with the Texas Burn Survivor Society, emphasizing his resilience since he experienced a life-altering incident in 2018.

Zachary Sutterfield, then 20 years old, was gearing up to start his junior year as an English major at Texas State University. He had been staying with his friends, Haley Michele Frizzell and David Ortiz, while he waited for his own unit at The Iconic Village Apartments in San Marcos to be move-in ready, KVUE reported. After drifting off to sleep around midnight, he awoke in the early morning hours of July 20 to the living room area around him in flames.

After jumping from the second-story window and landing headfirst, Sutterfield was rushed to Brooke Army Medical Center, his family said in a statement. He received treatment for a traumatic brain injury and third-degree burns covering 70% of his body.

"The paramedics later said they had never seen anyone that burned before ... alive, and they truly did not expect him to live," the Sutterfield family said in a statement . "He was given a 20% chance to live that increased to 50% as he kept making it through the days that followed."

The fire tragically claimed the lives of five college-aged students: Frizzell, 19; Ortiz, 21; Dru Estes, 20; James Miranda, 23; and Belinda Moats, 21.

Since the incident, Sutterfield has endured over 25 surgeries, adapted to significant physical changes, and championed fire safety education among the public.

With his family's support, he has dedicated hours to encouraging and assisting burn survivors across Texas through working with nonprofit organizations like Sons of the Flag and the Texas Burn Survivor Society (TBSS) .

Operating out of San Antonio, the TBSS offers a variety of programs aiding children, teenagers, military personnel, and families impacted by burn and thermal injuries —helping thousands make a return to normal and productive lives, the website states.

Sutterfield's transformation from surviving to thriving was one of many reasons the TBSS awarded him the esteemed Jane Jayne Award on Nov. 2.

Named after the organization's founders, Executive Director Sue Dodson said the award honors those "who have gone above and beyond in helping and giving back to the burn community."

It reflects the "quiet, supportive, and always encouraging" service of Jane Jayne, who was married to David Jayne when he experienced life-threatening burns as a result of a helicopter crash in 1959.

He underwent three years of medical treatment and rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center, the TBSS website states, yet even as a patient, the couple provided financial, emotional, and peer support to others in the hospital's Burn Unit.

Jane remained the backbone of her husband's recovery as he returned to military helicopter missions in the Vietnam War and pursued a career in law, helping establish mandates that "tint material" — commonly found in children's clothing — meet flame resistance standards.

Dodson, who took over the TBSS in 2007, said community members like the Sutterfield family made her want to stay.

"I came here to run the organization for six months and just never left because I fell in love with the work and the people that we work with," Dodson said.

As Zachary progressed in his recovery, he began to attend the TBSS support groups and connect with the organization's members.

Then, in 2020, the pandemic caused the organization's events to occur virtually, including its annual Camp David. Zachary and his mother, DJ Sutterfield, designed T-shirts and a custom "Thank You" note for the kids to submit from the safety of their homes.

"We couldn't get the kids together at camp. And so we sent every camp kid this huge box that re-created to the best of our ability each day at camp," Dodson said.

The Sutterfield family went on to help with Camp David from 2018 to 2021 and have continued to partner with the TBSS to share their story of strength at conferences, Dodson said.

"I think you can tell I love what we do," Dodson said. "We feel very, very privileged to do it."

Along with his continued involvement with the TBSS, Zachary shares fire prevention tips on social media and is a staff member for Sons of the Flag , a nonprofit that "revolutionizes burn care and quality of life for veterans, first responders, and families" through research, development, and funding.

"To get involved with an organization that is so steadfast and courageous in their mission to help burn survivors and make sure they live a happy, healthy life ... it's really one of the most beautiful and inspiring things you can have as a burn survivor," Sutterfield said about the organization in a video . "I'm going to make the most out of my life because I'm here, I'm lucky to be here, and by golly, I'm going to make waves."