A Valley Cottage firefighter who was injured earlier this month was welcomed back to the fire department after recovering at Westchester Medical Center.

Ryan Ebner was badly burned trying to put out a fire in a basement on Storms Road.

Ebner has been slowly but steadily recovering at the hospital.

A tremendous amount of support and solidarity welcomed him home on his 25th birthday.

"A lot of excitement and optimism that he's coming home today and the last several days he's made some great progress and he's got a long road ahead, but I think for Ryan to see this it's got to be something special for him," says Chris Kear, the Rockland community fire coordinator.

Officials say members from nearly all 26 fire departments showed their support for Ryan.