STROUDSBURG, Pa. — It's lunchtime at the Happy Hour Bar and Grill in Stroudsburg. Chicken wings are being prepped and put in the oven, and burgers are on the flat top.
A familiar face is back on the line.
"I like doing it. That's why I'm happy to be back at work, it's my comfort,"
It's chef Mike Dekalb's first week back to work after his apartment on Poco Lane in East Stroudsburg went up in flames last month.
One of his neighbors died, and Dekalb spent time in the hospital recovering from burns.
"It was about 20% of my body, so it started from my left elbow, up my back, shoulders, and mid-way down my back. I was in the burn unit for 4 or 5 days," said Dekalb.
Dekalb said when the flames broke out, he told his wife they needed to get out. He grabbed the dog and made his way outside.
"I turned around and realized my wife wasn't coming out the door and the fire was already at our deck, so I'm yelling to Josh to get the dog, and I'm like I have to get Karina out, and that's when the predominant of the burn happened," recalled Dekalb.
While Mike was recovering, the restaurant held fundraisers to help the couple with medical bills and other expenses.
"It makes you feel like you matter. Like I'm more than a line cook here, its like part of a family so it's a sobering fact like cool I'm not just a worker here," said Dekalb.
"I mean seeing how the building the way it was and seeing how much pain he was in, I talked to him pretty much every day or every other day what he was going through, it is amazing he is back. They did a great job at the hospital taking care of him," said Happy Hour owner Eric Scelza.
A Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal ruled the fire accidental.