What does it take to survive the unthinkable? In this episode of Epic Begins With One Step Forward, host Zander Sprague sits down with author and professor AJ Otjen to share the raw, harrowing, and ultimately inspiring story behind his book, Burned Over! The Survival of Montana Firefighter Dan Steffensen. When a wall of fire swallowed Dan during what should have been a routine grassfire call, no one expected him to live—let alone return to the fireline two years later. AJ recounts the emotional two-and-a-half-year journey of writing Dan’s story, the fight for survival after 60% of Dan’s body was burned, and how one man’s resilience united an entire community desperate for hope. This isn’t just a story about firefighting—it’s about family, forgiveness, stubborn grit, and what it truly means to come home. Ready to hear what real courage sounds like? Press play and let’s go.
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