12-year-old alerts residents of house fire

CHARLOTTE — A 12-year-old boy walking to lunch is being called a hero for saving the lives of six people when he saw smoking coming from their northwest Charlotte home.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Charlotte Fire Capt. Mark Basnight said the boy, who is home-schooled, was on his way to a fast-food restaurant when he noticed smoke rising from a back porch. He rushed to alert the residents.

Authorities said an elderly woman who was one of the residents apparently was cleaning the stove when her robe caught fire. She took it off, and put it on the back porch – unaware the robe was burning.

Basnight said the woman was treated for minor burns and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The fire caused about $35,000 in damages to the home.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)