A man from Washington state is being celebrated as a true hero after he fearlessly ran into a blazing house to save his eight-year-old niece. According to reports, 20-year-old Derrick Byrd sustained painful second- and third-degree burns on his arms, back, and face after rushing back inside the burning home when he realized his niece was trapped.
Speaking with KOMO-TV, Derrick recalled the terrifying moments and made it clear that he never once hesitated. “Even though I got burnt, I didn’t really care. I’d rather suffer the burns than let her get hurt. She’s young, she still has so much life ahead of her. She’s a good kid,” he said.
The fire broke out at a residence in Aberdeen, Washington, where Derrick had been with six other family members, including his sister, Kayla, and her three children. As the flames spread, he managed to help his nephews, Junior and Royce, escape by catching them when they jumped from a second-floor window.
But his eight-year-old niece, Mercedes, panicked after watching her mother, Kayla, fall from the roof and was too terrified to jump. In that critical moment, Derrick made a split-second decision—he charged back into the burning home without regard for his own safety.
Inside, the fire quickly engulfed him. “I could feel it burning me,” Derrick recalled. “But I grabbed her, took off my shirt, wrapped it around her face so she wouldn’t breathe in the smoke, and carried her out as fast as I could.”
Despite the serious injuries he sustained, Derrick insists he would not hesitate to do it all over again. “I’d run back in there and do it again—even if it meant getting burned worse, or even dying,” he said firmly.
While many have labeled him a hero, Derrick himself is humble about the praise. “I wouldn’t call myself a hero. I’d just say that when it came to my niece and nephews, I wasn’t going to let them die,” he explained.
There is no doubt, however, that Derrick Byrd’s bravery speaks for itself. In the face of unimaginable danger, he revealed the depth of his love and courage. His actions not only saved a young girl’s life but also reminded everyone of what true selflessness looks like.
Let us all keep Derrick in our thoughts and wish him a smooth and speedy recovery. His story deserves to be shared as a powerful reminder of the strength of family and the extraordinary courage that can emerge in life’s most desperate moments.