Uncle left with third-degree burns after running into burning building to save 8-year-old girl

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.”