The Jasper tourist who helped rescue seven people from a burning building is being hailed as a hero within Jasper and across the country.

Justin Byrne, 34, was staying in the cabin behind the Pyramid Riding Stables staff accommodation on July 17. The Edmonton resident had just put his two children to bed and was set to enjoy a perfect evening with his wife when chaos ensued.

“We saw and heard this massive explosion. For the first 30 seconds, you’re stunned. It had mostly leveled the staff accommodation for the riding stable,” Byrne said. “The ground shook and you could see this wall of debris shooting in the sky. Did we get bombed or was there a meteor shooting from the sky?”

After witnessing the explosion, he ran down the hill in his bare feet towards the burning wreckage, calling to see if help was needed.

“I could hear people calling for help, and I went to see if there was anything I could do,” Byrne said. “There were people walking around in the rubble on debris.”

He went back up the hill, grabbed his shoes and started getting people out of the fire.

“I took a girl from the rubble and took her to the parking lot. I grabbed another two – they were walking and took them to the far side of the building. Then I went into the rubble and started pulling people out,” Byrne said.

In all, he was able to get seven people from the burning building, some with broken legs and severe head injuries. But there were still at least two others trapped inside. 

“There was a lady I was trying to help. I was pulling as hard as I could on this 12 x 2 roof support. There was no way I could move it... the hardest thing I ever had to do was walk away from her,” Byrne said.

EMS, police and firefighters arrived on scene about nine minutes after Byrne’s wife called 911. Byrne was able to direct EMS to others he knew were still trapped in the building. Others were also on scene trying to get people out, he said.

“I directed EMS to everything I knew. I told them where the other two were,” Byrne said.

Byrne said he wasn’t thinking during the incident. 

“My adrenaline kicked in. It’s all a blur. I keep reliving snippets and see pictures in my head,” he said. 

He’s hopeful someone would do the same for him if the roles were reversed.

“My wish is someone would do it for me and my family.”

Rescuing people isn’t a situation he’s accustomed to. 

“I’m deathly afraid of accidents and injuries and the sight of blood,” Byrne said. “I’m thrilled the people made it out and are OK. I’m still in a state of shock.”

He’s also not comfortable with the hero label, either. 

“Superman was a hero. I was a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time and I was able to help. I’m not a big fan of attention. It was a fluke I was there. Had I not been there, it could have been really bad,” he said.

Jasper Const. Stephen Pavlov told the Fitzhugh there was a good chance Byrne saved lives with his quick action.

“Thank God he was there,” Jasper fire chief Greg Van Tighem said. 

- With files from CBC