In a somber yet heroic tale from Ohio, a retired Marine veteran is being celebrated for his selfless bravery after he tragically lost his life saving his family from a house fire. Horace Oates Jr., who had served with distinction in the Marines, relied on his military training to act decisively when their Toledo home was engulfed in flames early Tuesday morning.

Oates Jr.’s stepdaughter, Breonna Blackwell, recounted the harrowing event, emphasizing how his actions reflected the discipline and courage he had honed during his service. “I feel like he died doing what he learned,” she shared with WTVG, underscoring the depth of his commitment to protecting his loved ones.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m., with nine people inside the residence, including a three-month-old infant. Blackwell described how her stepfather’s quick thinking made all the difference. “My mom told me that he grabbed her, the baby, and his second oldest and pushed them all down the stairs,” she said, illustrating his determination to ensure their safety.

While Oates Jr. succeeded in leading his family to safety, he was tragically unable to escape the inferno himself. His sacrifice has been met with widespread admiration, as the community hails him as a true hero for his ultimate act of courage.

“My mom told me that he grabbed her, the baby, and his second oldest and pushed them all down the stairs,” Blackwell said.

Oates Jr. heroically evacuated his family out of the house in the early hours of the morning, but tragically was the only one not to make it out of the house before it was engulfed in flames.

“There’s no telling what would have transpired without them being here,” Blackwell said, praising her late stepfather.

The family’s house and Oates Jr.’s wife’s car are completely destroyed. Their animals also died in the blaze, the GoFundMe set up by Blackwell said.

Investigators spoke to witnesses and reviewed surveillance footage and determined the inferno was the result of arson. 

A family friend, Cory Allen, 44, was identified as the arsonist and charged with murder, online court records show. The motive for starting the blaze was unclear.

Residents said they saw Allen walking around the neighborhood as firefighters battled the blaze.

“He stayed around here after the house caught fire, he was walking around the block. He was over here. People seen him, I seen, I didn’t know he started it,” Blackwell said.

Allen — who has an extensive rap sheet of priors including assault, public indecency, domestic violence and strangulation — is being held on $9 million bond at the Toledo Municipal Court, according to online court records.

He is set to return to court on April 13.