The Juarez family refers to the Davenport fire marshal as “our Ty Pennington.”

The reference becomes instantly obvious when entering their new home near 53rd and Eastern. What is not obvious — by design — is that it was built to accommodate Davenport Fire Capt. Bob Juarez’s wheelchair.

His wife, Nancy Juarez, agreed Wednesday with a remark that the Davenport home resembles one built on the popular TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” adding that Fire Marshal Mike Hayman was much like Pennington — the program’s host.

“This is so much more than a house,” Nancy Juarez said through tears. “We’re just very, very lucky to have this.”

Much of the home’s construction — both material and labor — was donated by Quad-City companies and individuals who were moved by the sacrifice made by Juarez. He was paralyzed from the waist down when he fell 30 feet from a ladder while fighting a downtown blaze June 12.

“It is hard to believe it has been almost a year since our lives were forever changed,” Nancy Juarez said. “The things that stick out in my mind as I look back, though, are not sad and depressing but, rather, uplifting and inspiring.”

The challenges of the past year, much of which has been spent in rehabilitation, did not show on Bob Juarez Wednesday. He smiled broadly as he shook the hands of his “firefighter brothers” who turned out to give media tours of the new house.

One of his greatest struggles, his wife and fellow firefighters said, was accepting help from others, given that he is accustomed to being the one who helps.

He hopes to return to work in some capacity with the Davenport Fire Department and already has returned to helping coach children’s baseball teams. He also travels alone once a week to Iowa City, where he participates in a medical study on spinal cord injuries. And he plans to participate this summer in the Quad-City Times Bix 7.

For now, he is looking forward to the return of some of the independence he lost.

“It’s just unbelievable,” he said of his new home. “It’s still unbelievable to say this is our house.”

The 2,000-square-foot home has been under construction for about eight months and was custom-built by Big Dog Construction. The company’s co-owner, Shawn Larson, said much of the work involved adapting the home’s design to accommodate a wheelchair.

“For instance, the (light) switches are at the lowest level that’s legal, and the electrical outlets are at the highest legal level,” he said, adding that the house wasn’t built by contractors alone. “This goes way beyond us. This is community.

“But it was difficult to even convince them they needed this. They’re very humble people. This is their turn.”

Besides, Hayman said, the family’s former home was not suitable, and the new house gives them back part of what they lost.

“Bob’s a very good cook,” he said. “He cooked a lot at the fire station, and he can really get around in this kitchen. Believe it or not, he also likes to do laundry.”

Convenience is key, they said, but safety is, too.

Hayman said the home’s sprinkler system was donated, along with a backup generator that will keep the home’s wheelchair lift to the basement operational in a power outage. It is also important that the air quality remain consistent.

“Bob’s not as mobile as the rest of us, and he needs to be able to get out of the house,” Hayman said.

“He can’t afford to get a simple cold, either,” Larson added. “We made this house so Bob can get everywhere and see everything. We’re really excited for him.”