USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
MapWrong Turn Sends Alabama Driver Into Georgia Fire, Saving Family Of 14
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GPS glitch sent driver driving home to Alabama to Highway 114 near Lyerly, Georgia. The man woke a sleeping family of 14 from a blaze.
5 outlets told this the same way.
Wrong Turn, Fast Rescue
A driver identified by the family as Mr Casey was traveling home to Alabama when a GPS navigation error sent him south of Lyerly, Georgia, onto Highway 114 and he spotted a house engulfed in flames just before midnight on Saturday, October 17.
Mr Casey drove toward the burning structure instead of continuing on his journey, ran inside to wake the sleeping household, and helped get everyone out before the fire could trap them.
James and Larita Burke slept alongside their family when the fire broke out, and the household escaped unharmed with 14 residents including two adults, 11 children, and one grandchild.
The Chattooga County Sheriff's Office said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, with official determinations pending further forensic examination of the site.
Larita Burke said, "If it had been another five minutes, it would've been a different situation. We wouldn't have made it."
Casey’s Actions, Family’s Thanks
James Burke told Local 3 News he fell asleep in his recliner Saturday night and woke to find a man in his living room telling him, "Hey, you've got to get out of here. Your house is on fire,".
James Burke said Casey helped pull all 12 children from the burning home to safety and helped get firefighters to the scene once they arrived.
Larita Burke credited the stranger for saving their lives, saying, "We didn't have time to process. We didn't need to be brave. They were the ones who were brave,".
James Burke described how Casey felt compelled to follow the unfamiliar road after seeing the glow from the top of the hill, saying, "He was on the wrong road. His GPS put him on the wrong path."
The Burkes said the home was a total loss and they were left working on finding a rental home big enough for all 14 of them while they rebuild their family home.
Aftermath and What’s Next
The Burkes said they have fostered more than 500 children over 15 years, and they planned to resume fostering once permanent housing is established.
Larita Burke told Local 3 News, "We are traumatized, of course, but you know what? We're going to turn this page, and we're gonna continue our lives because we have so much to live for."
The family said neighbors and regional organizations mobilized to assist the displaced family with clothing, temporary shelter, and essential supplies.
The Chattooga Sheriff’s Office said the cause is still under investigation and no determination has been made public, while the Times of India said official determinations were pending further forensic examination of the site.
A GoFundMe campaign launched to raise funds for the family had raised more than $10,000 as of October 23, according to The Independent.