Family rescued from burning home

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A 13-year-old boy was hurt Tuesday night as he and four others helped alert a family of six to a fire at their South Providence home.

The fire sparked at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the home on Glenham Street, spreading quickly from the second floor up the building.

"I saw smoke coming out of the attic, and then all the firemen came, like a lot," said neighbor Janet Montero.

Five neighbors who were walking by the house spotted the flames and ran around the home, banging on doors and windows. As the family escaped, a window exploded on one of the teens below, cutting and burning his hands.

"The windows started popping and the house started melting and it fell
on me as I was trying to get in," said Bryant Morel.

"There was so much smoke in the house I could barely see, but I still managed to get to the fire," said Leo Taveres.

Taveres tried to douse the flames with pots full of water, but the blaze grew faster around him.

"I tried to go back a second time, but in the kitchen where I re-filling the pot, it was caving in, the ceiling was caving in a little bit, so I said, no, we need to get out of here," said Taveres.

Investigators said the fire appears to be accidental, possibly caused by an electrical problem. The family, including four children aged 2 to 15, are staying with friends.

Morel said he and his friends don't want to be called heroes.

"We all chipped in together as a community. It wasn't only me but I was the only one that got injured, but all of us helped out," said Morel.