A Saskatoon teacher has been recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, based in Pittsburgh.

Sean Hayes was on the scene at Evan Hardy back in 2024, when a 15-year-old girl was doused in gasoline and set on fire by a classmate. Hayes, age 33, was in the hallway when the attack was happening, and immediately instructed a co-worker to phone 911.

According to the Hero Fund Commission’s webpage, Hayes then instructed the girl to move to the ground and got on his hands and knees beside her. He then rocked her back and forth in an attempt to snuff out the flames. When that didn’t work, he used his own hands, soon realizing the flames had jumped to his own clothing. After removing his overshirt and T-shirt, he used them to pat out the flames on the girl’s body before requesting a co-worker’s shirt after his own overshirt had been damaged by the flames. Then, with most of the flames extinguished and a school police officer on scene to relieve him, Hayes used a fire extinguisher to rid the nearby door and floor of flames.

The victim and Hayes were both taken to a nearby hospital. The girl was airlifted elsewhere due to burn severity, and Hayes suffered burns to the left side of his body, including his face, neck, side, and hand. He has since recovered.