A young man from Washington state is being rightfully praised as a true hero after risking his life to save his eight-year-old niece from a house fire. Derrick Byrd, 20 years old, suffered severe injuries when he ran back into a burning home in Aberdeen, Washington, to rescue the child who was too afraid to jump to safety.
According to reports, the fire broke out while Byrd and six other family members were inside the house, including his sister Kayla and her three young children. As flames spread rapidly through the building, chaos unfolded. Byrd was outside when his two young nephews, Junior and Royce, were able to escape by jumping out of a second-floor window. Byrd helped catch them safely.
However, his eight-year-old niece, Mercedes, was too terrified to jump. She had just watched her mother, Kayla, fall from the roof while trying to escape the blaze, and the fear left her frozen. Realizing she was trapped and in grave danger, Byrd made a split-second decision that would change everything—he ran straight back into the burning house, without hesitation.
“I could feel it burning me,” Byrd told KOMO-TV in an emotional interview. “I got her and took my shirt off and put it around her face so she wouldn’t breathe in any smoke, and I just carried her out as fast as I could.”
As a result of his bravery, Derrick sustained second- and third-degree burns to his face, back, and arms. Despite the pain and serious injuries, he has expressed no regret. In fact, he made it clear that he would do the same thing all over again if it meant saving the life of someone he loves.
“Even though I got burnt, I really didn’t care,” he said. “I’d rather get burnt than her. She’s young. She’s still got a lot of stuff going for her. She’s a good kid.” Byrd’s selfless actions have touched people across the country and sparked an outpouring of admiration on social media. While many are calling him a hero, Derrick remains humble. “I can’t say I’m a hero. I’d just say for my niece and nephews, I wasn’t going to let them die.”
His story is a powerful reminder of what real courage and love look like. In a moment of pure instinct, with no time to think about his own safety, Derrick chose to protect his family at all costs. His bravery is not only inspiring, but also deeply moving. As he recovers from his injuries, many are calling for recognition of his heroism—and rightfully so. Derrick Byrd showed the world that true heroes walk among us, often in the most ordinary of places, ready to act with extraordinary love when it matters most.