Off-Duty Firefighter Saves Neighbor From Burning Missouri Home

Greg DeGreeff's toddler son became an unexpected hero when he ran to his dad saying there was smoke around the house.

The off-duty Pattonville firefighter rushed outside his Oakville, Missouri home on March 29 to find his neighbor's garage completely engulfed in flames. Within seconds, he realized something terrifying: his neighbor's wife, who has mobility issues, wasn't outside with the gathering crowd.

DeGreeff knew flames were blocking the front door, so he made a split-second decision. He crashed through the backyard fence (later admitting he probably should have just jumped it) and ran into the smoke-filled home without any protective gear.

Inside, heat and smoke quickly filled the house as he searched for his neighbor. He found her and helped her walk to safety, getting her out just before the first fire truck arrived on scene around 11:30 a.m.

The home was destroyed by the fire, which officials believe started in the attached garage. The cause remains under investigation, though authorities don't consider it suspicious.

Why This Inspires

DeGreeff keeps downplaying what he did. "I didn't carry her out. I walked her out," he said. "I'm not trying to make myself sound any more. It's just what we do."

But his fire chief sees it differently. Pattonville Fire Protection District Chief Jim Usry said DeGreeff's quick actions likely saved the woman's life and demonstrate the level of commitment firefighters maintain even when they're off the clock.

The department plans to recommend DeGreeff for a Medal of Honor. His response to that recognition? Pure humility.

"You take care of people when you do this job for a living, so that's all what it was," he said.

The real hero of the day might be DeGreeff's 3-year-old son, who his dad calls their "watchdog" for spotting the smoke first. That toddler's awareness set a life-saving rescue in motion.

Sometimes heroism looks like a dad who sees danger and runs toward it, and a little boy who knew something was wrong and spoke up.