Heroic 74-Year-Old Grandpa Praised For Saving A Woman In A Hotel Fire

Jun 30, 2023

Greg Spike, a 74-year-old grandfather, was hailed a hero after he rescued a woman from a devastating hotel fire at the Valley River Inn in Eugene, Oregon. His timely presence and quick thinking saved the life of Stacy Barkley, an Illinois native visiting family in the area.

In the late morning of Feb. 28, 2023, Barkley, who was engrossed in a crafting project in her hotel room, suddenly heard a faint alarm before discovering the smoke-filled hallways. Attempting to escape, she went to the balcony only to witness flames coming from an adjacent room. 

Her husband, Donald, who was already visiting his sister, instructed Barkley to leave the room. However, the fire had grown too intense, and Barkley hesitated, fearing disorientation. She took measures to block the door with a towel and eventually made her way back to the balcony.

According to a report by USA Today, Spike was out for his morning jog when he noticed smoke billowing from the hotel. While filming the blaze on his phone, Spike heard Barkley cry for help. The grandfather wasted no time and jumped into action to rescue Barkley from the perilous situation.

Desperate to get out, Barkley dropped her belongings from the balcony to the ground and lowered herself over the railing. Realizing the urgency, Spike yelled at Barkley to jump while positioning himself to break her fall.  

The fire, which started on the second floor of the hotel along the Willamette River, quickly spread to the third floor and attic, triggering a three-alarm response from the Eugene Springfield Fire Department (ESF). The firefighters responded at 11:07 a.m. The flames had started on the second floor before rapidly spreading to the third floor and attic. 

With courage and trust, Barkley leaped into Spike's waiting arms, saving her from the flames. Miraculously, Barkley remained unharmed and was wearing a KN95 mask at the time of the rescue.

Following the harrowing incident, a video of the rescue was shared on social media, garnering attention and admiration for Spike's heroism. Barkley and Spike were virtually reunited through a Zoom interview with a local TV network, where Barkley expressed her gratitude for Spike's selfless act. She commended him for his calmness and support, stating that not everyone would have responded as he did. He was left in tears by her gratitude. 

"When you hear somebody yell, 'Help! Help!' you get involved," Spike told NBC16. “I really didn’t think. When somebody yelled for help, I kinda answered it." ​​

Spike also said that it hit him hard when Barkley kept saying that she might never get to meet her unborn grandson. So, the grandfather made sure that this rescue was going to turn out fine. 

Both Barkley and Spike expressed their desire to meet in person when Barkley returned to Eugene for the birth of her grandson. Barkley sent Spike a heartfelt thank-you note and a bunny cross-stitch design she had been working on during the fire. In her message, Barkley conveyed her deep appreciation for Spike's courage and kindness, acknowledging that he risked his life to save hers without hesitation.

Mike Caven, the fire chief, also praised Spike's bravery, emphasizing the significant impact bystanders can have in emergency situations. It took the combined efforts of all available ESF crews to bring the fire under control by 2:22 p.m. Thanks to the activated fire alarm, the hotel was successfully evacuated without any reported injuries. However, the building suffered significant damage, including a partial roof collapse. 

Greg Spike's decisive response to the hotel fire shows the profound impact individuals can have when they step up to help those in need. He and Stacy Barkley will forever be bonded over this incident. Do you know someone who might need to know of this inspiring story? Then pass this along to family or friends!