Terry Barton started the largest wildfire in Colorado history and in the next six weeks, she will learn just how long she'll spend behind bars.

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Hayman Firefighter Said He Was Burned

But eight months after the smoke and fire, the federal government is accused of ignoring its responsibility to an injured firefighter.

7NEWS Investigator Tony Kovaleski exposes the unthinkable and asks, "How can it happen?"

This story about a broken arm and a broken system. A Colorado hero was injured fighting the fire and now he says he's been burned by the federal government.

For fighting the Hayman fire Ryan Beyer received $11 an hour.

"To have the opportunity to go to the Hayman Fire, I thought was a really big honor," U.S. Forest Service Firefighter Ryan Beyer said. "Fighting fires is in my blood and it's what I love to do."

He got the call on Father's Day.

"It wasn't a very popular decision -- me going on Fathers Day," Beyer said.

Like many firefighters, Beyer set his family aside. He left his wife and three boys behind in Fort Collins to risk his life fighting the largest wildland fire in Colorado history.

While cutting a fire line, Beyer tripped over a downed tree trunk and broke his arm.

"When I fell, the pain was immediate. I knew something was really, really wrong," he said. "I wiggled around on the ground holding my arm, and pretty much screaming at the top of my lungs because the pain was pretty much unbearable."

But this firefighter's pain did not end with a broken bone. His injury kept him out of work and his family without a paycheck for 45 days.

"This claim is not payable as no wages were lost for specific period," the automated government operator says over the machine.

His treatment, surgery and therapy added up to more than $12,000 in medical bills.

"It makes me want to go crazy. I just yell, cry. I don't know -- It's me blows out, " he said.

Beyer is frustrated because he not only helped the government fight the fire, he also helped in the prosecution of fire starter Terry Barton -- He was the only firefighter named in Barton's federal indictment.

Beyer said he's gotten nothing for the risk he's taken.

Eight months after risking his life for $11 an hour, the federal government has given Beyer nothing more than a bunch of worthless paperwork and an automated operator.

"They are not holding up to their end of the bargain. It's my job to go out and fight the fire. It's their job to pay me. I did my job. Nobody else is doing theirs," Beyer said.

The Labor Department is refusing to talk with 7NEWS on camera but did say this is not out of the ordinary.

7NEWS Investigates took Beyer's frustration to Sen. Wayne Allard's office. Staff members could not understand why it's taken so long. They say he has a strong case and 7NEWS expects to have some sort of action to report Monday at 10 p.m.