Injured Duluth Firefighter Cheered On As He Continues His Recovery

DULUTH, Minn. – When a Duluth 148th Fighter jet flew overhead Monday morning, it was offering a greeting of sorts to a young man below. Under the roar of the engines was the message, “We love you, Ray. Go get ’em!”

The Duluth International Airport was the scene of a large, extended family gathering. They were there to send off Ray Skoglund on his next step to getting better. The tarmac overflowed with firefighter buddies, 148th Fighter Wing pals, police officers, friends and family. All were there to support Skoglund as he flew out to a Denver hospital specializing in long recovery.

Two weeks ago, the 24-year-old was out for a run when he was hit by a car and severely injured.  Surviving the blow was not a certainty.

Raymond Skoglund

“Firefighters, friends and family at Essentia, literally around the clock. We had someone there around the clock,” said Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj. “We had people bringing in food, bringing in snacks, bringing in things for the family. And Ray’s mom Sandy, and father Rich, and both of his sisters wanted us to relay their appreciation to everybody who’s helped out over the last few weeks,” Krizaj said.

In a profession that stereotype says calls for everyone to be stoic, at times it was clear from the Chief that everyone in the department was touched by the events, and his humanity showed through.

“I think seeing the firefighter family come together, means a lot to us, means a lot to them, and the whole Skoglund family has become part of our family.”

Skoglund is still early in the recovery process and was transported on a bed between the ambulance and the awaiting airplane. Chief Krizaj said the family wants to thank everyone at Essentia for the wonderful care Skoglund has received. He has come along way in the past two weeks, and the Chief said they have noticed steady improvement.

As part of the next stop in his recovery journey, Monday’s flight took him to Craig Hospital in Denver. It is a neurorehabilitation center where he will have an inpatient advanced care plan.
Chief Krizaj said Skoglund has always liked running, biking and just in general, being on the move. So, Monday’s action was good for everyone.

“He loved to see us. He loved to see his fire family. I guarantee he felt good about it. He had a smile on his face. And it was killing him to be just lying in bed. So, I think getting out to Craig and actually starting some physical therapy–he’s an active person–and the last thing he would ever want to do is lay around in a bed for over two weeks. So, I think he’s going to go out there and I think he’s really going to kill it,” said Krizaj.

The department says it’s not known how long Skoglund will be at Craig.

In the meantime, the 88-year-old Duluth man charged in the incident is awaiting his next court proceeding. The man told investigators he heard something, but didn’t know he hit anything, and kept driving.