Passerby helps family escape raging house fire in southeast Houston

HOUSTON – A family's southeast Houston home was destroyed Thursday morning after a raging fire swept through it.

A man, his wife and mother-in-law were inside their home on St. Lo near Westover around 6:45 a.m. when a passerby alerted them that it was on fire.

The family rushed outside, and the passerby helped them tear down a wooden fence to get them a safe distance away from the burning house.

Sincearce Irvin realizes how lucky they were.

"Thank God for getting us out of there," said she said.

They credit their quick-thinking neighbor with saving their lives.

"I think it's amazing you know a person was out here to help us see our house burning down come over here and wake us up and get them out. That's a hero," said Andre Mudd.

The neighbor said he was just at the right place at the right time.

"I just jumped the gate and banged on the window that's my friend," said Stephan Abreu. "I just did what I thought was right. That's all, the house was on fire, I wouldn't want no one to leave me in a burning house."

The home was fully engulfed in flames when the Houston Fire Department arrived.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.