Boy, 10, rushes into burning house to save little sister

Antoine Burks, 10, ran back into his burning house in Louisville, Ky. to save his little sister.

When fire broke out at a Louisville, Ky., home on Sunday night, 10-year-old Antoine Burks ran out. But then, remembering his little sister, Trinity, 6, he ran back in, braving the flames.

“I thought, if something bad happened to her, it might have been my fault, because I’m the big brother and I gotta protect her,” Antoine told WAVE’s Katie Bauer.

Trinity Barks, whose cheek, nose and lips were badly burned by the fire, said she was disoriented.


“I didn’t know where to go because the fire was standing right by me,” she said.

The fire started when Trinity, spraying her shoes with a liquid protector, accidentally sprayed a nearby lamp. All of a sudden, she said, “Fire popped out of nowhere.”

Get the whole story in the video above.

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Hero.

  • 32 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:10 PM EDT

Wow!

  • 17 votes
Reply#2 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:20 PM EDT

Sister yells: "Stop touching me! Mom, he touched me!"

In all seriousness, a good story, a good kid, and way less depressing than most news.

  • 9 votes
Reply#3 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:30 PM EDT

What?

  • 1 vote
#3.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:30 AM EDT

If you have ever had brothers and sisters, they like to make their siblings mad by poking your shoulder or your knee. My brother loved to wave his finger in my face and say "I'm not touching you..."

This is a good story though. So glad that big brothers still protect their little sisters.

  • 2 votes
#3.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:35 AM EDT
Reply

Won't see this story on Fox News.

  • 10 votes
Reply#4 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:38 PM EDT

I think we won't see it there because of their color.

  • 7 votes
#4.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:36 AM EDT

Moron. I see plenty of great stories involving people of all colors. This is news, and I am sure it you were able to watch all the news channels out there, that this story is being told.

Don't make this a 'color' thing. It detracts from this brave young man's courage. He is a hero. Your just an idiot.

  • 6 votes
#4.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:40 AM EDT

*You're.

  • 1 vote
#4.3 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:45 PM EDT

Learn to read retired, this comment was strictly for Fox News.

  • 1 vote
#4.4 - Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:33 AM EDT
Reply

What was in this shoe protector that could cause a lightbulb to blow up and start a fire if it got sprayed? Must have been some kind of flammable solvent that children should not have access to.

  • 10 votes
Reply#5 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:40 PM EDT

Nobody needs your pointless negativity.

  • 8 votes
#5.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:48 AM EDT

Wondering what could have been in the shoe spray that caused the fire by simply coming into contact with a light bulb isn't "pointless negativity". I'm sure the authorities will question that too, and maybe save others from having the same thing happen to them by doing so. The only "pointless negativity" here is your rude, unwarranted comment.

  • 11 votes
#5.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:02 AM EDT

Was curious of that myself so I asked Professor Google. According to a few 'Material Safety Data Sheets' that I found, waterproofing lubricant spray can vary from 10%-40% propane which is (obviously) extremely flammable. The HMIS flammability rating is usually 3-4 (that's on a 0-4 scale).

Light-bulbs that have been on for a while are definitely hot enough to light ignite materials that are easily combustible. I don't have a source for that, but just from hearing stories before I know they're (unfortunately) the cause for fires if say, a flammable piece of fabric is left too close to one for too long.

So in short, an aerosol spray that's <= 40% propane could easily ignite if sprayed on or near a hot enough light bulb. Glad to hear that this story had a happy ending for both those kids!

  • 7 votes
#5.3 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:43 AM EDT
Reply

Just a question, I didn't see covered in the story. Parents? Absent from the story, absent from the home during the fire?

  • 6 votes
Reply#6 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:44 PM EDT

The mom was home, in another room. She was treated for smoke inhalation, along with a two year old sibling of the children in the story.

  • 7 votes
#6.1 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:02 PM EDT
Reply

A true sense of "family values". Are you paying attention politicians?

  • 15 votes
Reply#7 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:07 PM EDT

Man it's nice to read things like this once in a while. That young man is very special.

  • 24 votes
Reply#8 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:18 PM EDT

It is wonderful to hear a positive story for a change. Good job, big brother.

  • 10 votes
Reply#9 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:03 PM EDT

God bless him. A hero at such a young age. Best wishes for him and his sister.

  • 11 votes
Reply#10 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:20 PM EDT

Antoine, at only 10 years old, you are already a class act. Trinity, you are truly blessed to have that big brother and I'm betting you already know that.

  • 12 votes
Reply#11 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:40 PM EDT

Good boy.

  • 10 votes
Reply#12 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:09 AM EDT

Who you callin 'boy'?? Just kidding. Great little story of bravery, way to go kid!

    #12.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:35 AM EDT

    BTW: a kid is the offspring of a goat.

      #12.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:34 AM EDT
      Reply

      why were her parents letting a 6 year old spray chemicals?

      and near a lamp?

      doesn't anyone have any sense in america anymore?

      • 4 votes
      Reply#13 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:44 AM EDT

      Do you have kids? Kids can get into things very quickly and you can't be in the same room with them every minute.

      • 17 votes
      #13.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:59 AM EDT

      Congratulations, this is the stupidest comment on the internet today.

      • 8 votes
      #13.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:49 AM EDT

      Accident happen especially with kids.

      • 5 votes
      #13.3 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:40 AM EDT
      Reply

      It's quite possible the little girl got the spray on her own, thinking her shoes were dirty and wanting to clean them. It's normal for a mom to be in the other room...she's 6, not an infant. It''s normal for a child (or adult) not to think the spray would ignite a lamp, or not think of it in the moment.

      But its beyond normal...it's wonderful, that the big brother went back for his sister...and I am glad the situation wasn't so bad that he got more hurt or worse.

      The mom was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation (with the 2yr old). She may have been too incapacitated to hold the boy back from danger (which turned out to be fortunate) or to go get her child herself.

      Lets just all be happy that this family all survived. I love seeing such a loving brother (he hugged her when she said her nose hurt the worst)

      • 7 votes
      Reply#14 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:06 AM EDT

      Heck I am an Adult and I wouldn't know that spraying shoe spray at a lamp would cause it to catch fire.

      • 2 votes
      #14.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:41 AM EDT

      Phenom- do you read labels? I'm certain it would have been labeled flammable if it had as high a rating as a previous poster suggested.

      I'm not trying to be mean- just trying to point out that there is a lesson to learn here. :)

      • 1 vote
      #14.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:47 AM EDT

      True Phaleaeo, but, using a shoe spary on a lamp is not the first thing that comes to my mind when I a handle shoe spary. Most of the times I don't even read the instructions on the back because these types of things are usually self explanitory. But, children are creative, I was too when I was young, and that creativity sometimes gets them in trouble. But lesson learned thx.

      • 1 vote
      #14.3 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:04 AM EDT

      Or maybe the child was holding the shoe near the lamp so she could have the light shine on the shoe so she could see where she was spraying.

      Next you will see a warning on the label: do not spray near a lamp.

        #14.4 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:37 AM EDT
        Reply

        Kid has the heart of a lion.

        You saved your sister's life my little man at substantial risk to your own safety. That is as good a definition of heroism as I need.

        Just don't let it go to your head ;)

        • 4 votes
        Reply#15 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:46 AM EDT

        No let it get to his head, he is already a hero at age 10. Imagine with all that ego the things he can accomplish at age 20.

        • 4 votes
        #15.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:42 AM EDT
        Reply

        Mom must be doing a fairly good job overall to have raised a boy to be so brave and strong. We're expecting more good things to come from you in the years ahead, Mr. Antoine.

        And Mom--don't blame yourself. As an adult I once exploded a light bulb spraying cologne on myself near a lamp. We can't think of every possible risk. You have two beautiful children, and I bet the baby is a doll, too. Congratulations on the great job you're doing.

        Best wishes.

        • 5 votes
        Reply#16 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:07 AM EDT

        “I thought, if something bad happened to her, it might have been my fault, because I’m the big brother and I gotta protect her,” Antoine told WAVE’s Katie Bauer.

        Well done! You are a true hero.

        • 3 votes
        Reply#17 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:43 AM EDT

        I highly commend the older brother for his heroism and compassion, but I do place some blame on the adults in the situation. Yes, I know that kids get into things, but she's 6. Six year olds are short. Why not put these flammable things up higher? In a child-locked cabinet?

        It's called child-proofing, and it doesn't sound like it was done here.

        Nonetheless, I'm very happy the whole family was able to make it to safety.

          Reply#18 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:45 AM EDT

          Have you ever been 6? 6-year olds are fiercely independent and not easily deterred. When I was six, I decided to "help" my mom while she was busy by cutting my own bangs with her razor-sharp sewing scissors. I climbed onto the sink and reached them. I'm sure you have a similar story that didn't end in disaster only from pure dumb luck.

          It was an accident. Not everything is the blame of some negligent parent who failed to predict the future and every single thing her kids would get into. Most people are just doing the best they can.

          • 3 votes
          #18.1 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:31 AM EDT

          Yes, I have been six. And I agree that not everything is the blame of the parents. But come on! Not only is the stuff flammable, it's also toxic to ingest. Would you not think twice about keeping something that is both flammable and toxic somewhere out of the reach of a six year old?

          If the kid climbed up on something, or un-latched a child proof cabinet, I wouldn't be mentioning the parent's role.

          When I was six, all chemicals in the house were either in the basement under lock and key, or in a cabinet upstairs with child-proof latching. They all had Mr. Yuk stickers on them, and I was firmly told that I was never to touch anything with a Mr. Yuk sticker.

          You yourself admit that six year olds get into things. What's wrong with making it a little harder?

            #18.2 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:10 PM EDT
            Reply

            This made me tear up....such a sweet, sweet boy...I'm still crying. So sweet.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#19 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:59 AM EDT

            Do you know if there is a site for donations for this family?

              Reply#20 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:08 AM EDT

              Heroic young man and may God Bless him!@

                Reply#21 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:26 AM EDT

                God Bless this heroic young man, but for me at least it begs the question; "Where were their parents when all this was happening"?

                  Reply#22 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

                  How wonderful! Sweet little hero!

                    Reply#23 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:35 AM EDT

                    How wonderful! Sweet little hero!

                      Reply#24 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:35 AM EDT

                      How wonderful! Sweet little hero!

                        Reply#25 - Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:35 AM EDT
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