Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has praised the bravery of two young children who acted quickly to save their father’s life after he caught fire, only a few days after Bonfire Night.
The incident occurred on Saturday, 9 November 2024, when Sam Barker was accidentally set alight by his bonfire after it got out of control. The flames quickly spread to his clothing.
Sam’s children, Harry and Grace—aged eight and six—immediately came to the rescue, and their quick and brave actions prevented this accident from being much worse.
Recalling the safety training they had received at school, Grace told her dad to ‘stop, drop and roll’, while Harry made an urgent call for help to family friends.
This life-saving advice, given by his daughter, is designed to extinguish flames on clothing—something she had recently learnt at school during a fire safety session.
Following her instructions, Sam fell to the ground and began rolling, effectively putting out the fire and preventing any further injuries.
Firefighters from Hucknall Fire Station responded to the incident on Watnall Road, Hucknall, where they gave Sam first aid before he was taken to King’s Mill Hospital for further treatment.
Sam said: “As guilty as I feel for putting them both through such a scary ordeal, I couldn’t be more proud of how sensible they were, remembering everything taught to them about fire safety. Without their actions, I could have suffered far worse injuries.
“Thank you to the school for their support and, of course, the firefighters, for everything.”
On Monday, 9 December 2024, firefighters from Hucknall Fire Station and Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Damien West presented both Harry and Grace with an ‘Act of Bravery’ certificate during a safety assembly at their school.
The Headteacher at Hucknall Flying High Academy, Mr Clowery, said: “Our aim is to work in an amazing, safe environment, and this includes our pupils knowing how fire can be dangerous and what to do in that unfortunate situation.
“This action from Harry and Grace just shows how wonderful they are—it was really brave of them, and it is a testament to their parents.”
ACFO Damien West said: “We are extremely proud of both Harry and Grace. They made a truly scary situation better by staying calm and knowing exactly what to do, which is why it was important for us as a Service to recognise them for their bravery.
“This incident is a powerful reminder of how vital fire education is. The children’s quick thinking really prevented this incident from being much worse.
“We urge all families to talk about fire safety with their children and rehearse what to do in case of an emergency—it can save a life.”
