'Without him we all could have died in there'

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http://www.kval.com/news/local/104642084.html

'Without him we all could have died in there'

By Koopmans KVAL News

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Flames and smoke gutted the Finster family home in

Springfield early Saturday morning, destroying nearly everything they owned.

But thanks to the family's 11-year-old son, , the fire didn't get a chance

to turn deadly.

" If it weren't for my little man, we probably would have slept right through

it, " said Finster.

is autistic. His mother said he has a heightened sensitivity to sounds and

that he was able to hear the 5 a.m. fire alarm while the rest of the family

slept.

" The smoke alarm went off, the youngest boy awoke and that's when he saw the

smoke, " said Springfield Fire Marshal Mark Dahl. " He woke everybody up and got

everybody out safely. "

, his mother and three others left everything behind as they escaped their

burning home. Now Finster says they're left with only the clothes on

their back.

" We lost everything, " said Finster. " We lost ['s] therapy cat. We don't

have a place to live anymore and we don't know what we're going to do. "

Fire officials arrived on scene just after 5 am Saturday morning. They were able

to control the blaze quickly and no one was injured.

But when the embers faded and ash settled, neighbors stepped in to help the

family find moments of hope. As fire crews sifted through the rubble, on

looking neighbors spotted two surprisingly unharmed photo albums and delivered

them to .

" Neighbors helping neighbors, " said neighbor Ernesto . " That's what we're

here for and I knew it was the only thing they would have left. "

The Finster family is now a home and and without most of their possessions. But

Finster said thanks to 's quick action, they still have their

lives.

" He knows, " said Finster. " I've been telling him all morning. Without him, we

all could have died in there. "

Neighbors close to the family say that tragedy was avoided by 's quick

action. Some are are dubbing him Springfield's newest hero.

" He's the hero of the day, " said neighbor Betty . " He really is. There's too

many times that people don't make it out. "

Fire crews said they will continue to investigate the fire. As of Saturday

afternoon they said there is no reason to believe the fire is suspicious.

The family is staying at a local hotel for the next three days courtesy of the

American Red Cross.