Hero needs help after rescuing neighbors from massive fire

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man who ran through fire to rescue his neighbors from an inferno at a Bartlett Apartment Complex needs help with his medical bills.

Jannita Johnson said her son Eric suffered second to third-degree burns to his face, hands, and feet in the early morning fire Thursday at the Quail Ridge Apartments on Egypt Central.

A friend has set up a GoFundMe page to cover his medical costs and time off of work. Jannita, said on the day of the fire, the only thing her son was thinking about was saving lives.

“He didn’t even know his face was burned until he got to the hospital,” she said.

Jannita said her son was running on adrenaline when he rescued at least three women and alerted several others to the raging fire in his apartment building. She said the 25-year-old remembers helping two women jump from their balconies, but much of it is still a blur.

“This lady called me. She was crying and told me how grateful she was. She said he helped her get out, and then it was like he ran through the fire,” Jannita said. “She said he ran through the fire, and the next thing you know, he was helping somebody else.”

Jannita said the whole time, her son was bleeding and had serious burns to his hands and feet.

“They said he was bleeding, and he was still beating on doors. They have ring camera video of him going door-to-door, still bleeding and limping and knocking on doors,” she said. “His skin was hanging off his hands. His skin was hanging off his feet.”

Jannita said she is proud of her son, who has always been selfless and fiercely independent. She said Eric started his own moving company, but because of his injuries, he can’t work and will need months of therapy.

“Because he was working for himself, he doesn’t have insurance, so we are paying for physical and occupational therapy, and then we are paying for his bandages,” she said. “I got a bag of bandages for $200, and they’re already gone. We have to change his bandages twice a day, so it’s very expensive.”

Jannita said her main concern is getting her hero son back on his feet and helping him deal with the trauma.

“He’s a very strong person, but I’m sure he’s in so much pain every day. Every day,” she said.

Quail Ridge Church of Christ and other churches in the Bartlett area have stepped up to help all the fire victims replace clothing, furniture, and other personal belongings.

Eric was the only person hurt in the fire. If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe, click here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.