Alabama driver carries 70-pound child from burning Lyerly home

Casey Sparks of Alabama followed a GPS route that led him to a burning house in Lyerly, Georgia, on Oct. 17. He helped move a mother and 12 children out of the structure, an action that preserved their lives.

The incident occurred while Sparks and his 13-year-old son, Cason, returned to Alabama from a softball tournament in Dalton. The GPS device repeatedly directed the vehicle toward Lyerly. After identifying the fire, Sparks stopped the car and instructed his son to call for emergency services.

Sparks entered the residence where LaRita Burke and James Burke were sleeping. The home contained the couple, their 11 adopted children, and a grandchild. LaRita Burke stated that Sparks physically assisted in the evacuation rather than simply waking the family.

He scooped up Isabella from her hospital bed and carried her across the yard. Isabella weighed nearly 70 pounds and could not support her head. Sparks placed her on a trampoline before returning inside to assist others.

Older children held infants and guided younger siblings to safety. Cason remained outside to keep the group calm while his father continued the rescue. LaRita Burke wrote that Sparks was the final person to exit the burning home.

The family gathered in a field across the road. LaRita Burke observed the firefighters extinguish the flames while barefoot and in her nightgown. She initially believed the fire was small enough to allow for cleanup, but later realized the house was fully engulfed.

LaRita Burke credited divine intervention for Sparks' arrival in a Facebook post. She noted that a brush fire near their property two weeks prior helped prepare the children, many of whom are autistic, for the presence of firefighters. The family escaped without burns or smoke inhalation.

The fire destroyed family photographs, children's scrapbooks, Bibles, and a quilt belonging to LaRita Burke's grandmother. The family is currently seeking a rental home where they can remain together.

LaRita Burke and Casey Sparks both attributed the rescue to God. Sparks stated that the alignment of events had no other explanation. LaRita Burke wrote that God went before them to provide protection and assistance during the disaster.