'He’s a hero': Father runs into burning home and emerges with two infant children

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a “hero” after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a “hero” after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

When fire broke out Saturday afternoon at a home on Ron McNeil Line, people were scrambling to get out.

“My wife called me and told me the house was on fire and I rushed home,” said Ben Wiebe, who lives in one of the units of the triplex that caught fire. “My wife says [a] father came down and screamed for help. The then went back up to grab [his] kids.”

His two children rescued were two-and-a-half years old, and an infant.

“He came back down with the kids in his arms, and he was on fire, so he just threw himself down,” said Wiebe. “He and the kids are burned pretty bad. I think their insides are okay, but his skin is bad.”

First responders were called around 2:40 p.m. Saturday for reports of a large fire on Main Street.

The Malahide Fire Station is just a few steps away, so they weren’t long attending.