Folsom Man Recovers, Starts Charity After Body Burnt

FOLSOM (CBS13) - For some, the scars may be tough to see but for Dan Acosta, he says the fire that burned half his body changed his life for the better.

"I've got a whole different outlook on life," said Acosta.

Last June, Acosta was under his truck when the spout to the gas tank popped off, and doused him with gasoline.

"I saw a blue spark, and it slowly was going up the gas tank, and right before it got to the top of the tank the flicker just went poof," said Acosta. "The fire came right after the explosion."

As Acosta fought the flames, he could only think of his son, who'd been watching just steps away.

"From what I was going through, there was no way he was going to live. There's no possible way," said Acosta.

His son would make it out safely, but doctors didn't think Acosta would. Doctors put him in a medically induced coma for three weeks.

"It was the first time I had missed my kid's birthday, my daughter," said Acosta, fighting back tears.

When he woke up, Acosta decided to make some changes.

He's paying it forward through his foundation, raising money for burn victims, after the community helped him with his medical bills.

Everyday Acosta says he makes a choice to keep fighting.

He's surprising doctors by already using his hands again. It's the only way he can communicate with his deaf wife.

"My motion is actually better than they thought because of the signing," said Acosta.

For him, the scars serve as a reminder to treasure each day.

"My son, my daughter, my wife, without them, they actually made me better throughout this," said Acosta.