A 24-year-old man sustained severe burns while rescuing children from a fire that engulfed their Montcalm County mobile home early yesterday morning. According to the FOX17, the local fire departments were alerted to the blaze around 2:27 a.m. and discovered flames breaking through the roof upon arrival.

The man, now identified as the homeowner, acted quickly to alert others to the fire, successfully evacuating the adults and five children between the ages of 1 and 8. As reported by WOODTV, Daryl Bush, a captain with the Sheridan Fire Department, commended the man, believed to be a father, for his actions which likely prevented a greater tragedy. Unfortunately, during the rescue, he suffered burns to his legs, back, and arms, and was conscious when transported to Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids; his current condition has not been made public.

The fire response, involving more than 20 firefighters from Sheridan and Stanton Community Fire Departments, used approximately 7,000 gallons of water to quell the flames. The home is reported as a total loss, as per the Sheridan Fire Department's Facebook post. In light of the severe damage, the family plans to stay with relatives and friends while they recover from the incident.

In terms of investigation into the fire's cause, it is believed to be accidental. However, the severity of the homeowner's injuries prompted further investigation by the Michigan State Police Fire Marshal Division. The American Red Cross was also contacted to assist the family during this difficult time.