Alabama Driver: Unplanned Route Leads to Rescue of 12 Children

Casey Sparks is back in Alabama, but the route his GPS took him on Oct. 17 has not left his mind. The unexpected detour led him to a burning home in Lyerly, Georgia, where he rescued a couple and 12 children who were asleep inside.

Sparks and his 13-year-old son, Cason, were driving home from a softball tournament in Dalton. As they navigated the return trip, their GPS repeatedly directed them toward Lyerly. They did not know they were headed toward a house on fire until Sparks saw the flames.

According to LaRita Burke, the mother of the rescued children, the family was unaware of the danger because smoke alarms were installed but the household was asleep. Burke has stated that she believes divine intervention brought Sparks to the scene at that specific moment.

Sparks stopped his vehicle and instructed Cason to call for help. He entered the home to wake the family. James Burke, the father, had fallen asleep in a recliner. Burke, the 11 adopted children, and a grandchild were also asleep.

Sparks physically assisted in moving the children to safety. Isabella, who weighed nearly 70 pounds and could not support her own head, was the first child he carried. Burke described how Sparks scooped Isabella out of her hospital bed and carried her across the yard to a trampoline. He then returned inside to help the others.

Older children in the home held babies and guided younger siblings by the hand. Cason remained outside to keep the children calm while his father continued the rescue efforts. Burke confirmed that Sparks was the last person to exit the burning house.

The family gathered near the trampoline before moving to a field across the road. Burke, wearing only her nightgown and no shoes, watched firefighters battle the flames. She initially thought the fire was contained enough to allow her back inside to clean up, but soon realized the structure was destroyed.

The family escaped without burns or smoke inhalation. However, they lost personal items including family photographs, children's scrapbooks, Bibles, and a quilt belonging to Burke's grandmother. Many of the children are autistic, and Burke noted that a recent brush fire near their property had helped them become familiar with emergency vehicles.

The Burkes are currently working to secure a rental home where they can stay together. They are also reassuring their adopted children that their permanent home is still being rebuilt. Burke has asked for prayers for the family during this transition.

Sparks and Burke both attribute the successful rescue to faith. Burke wrote on social media that God went before them. Sparks told The Guardian that there was no other explanation for the alignment of events that placed him at the house that night.