JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 12-year-old says he smelled something early Friday morning, got up to see flames in the living room and went to tell his mom, who got her four other children out safely.
Jacksonville Fire-Rescue said they got the call about 6:45 a.m about a house fire at a home on Hollings Street in Oceanway. The home was fully engulfed in flames when the first units arrived.
IMAGES: Family of six escapes house fire
"All of a sudden my son, my 12-year-old, came into my room saying there was a fire in my living room," said Diane Senterfitt. "I got up, grabbed the baby out of the play pen and we all ran out the house. My 9-year-old got a cup of water to put on the fire, but it had already went up inside of the wall, so we all just ran back out."
Senterfitt credits her son, Skylar, with saving their lives.
"If it wasn't for my 12-year-old, I don't know what would have happened," she said.
"Thank God all of us are safe," Skylar said.
The State Fire Marshal's Office was investigating the cause of the fire, but they have ruled out foul play.
JFRD Fire Chief Marty Senterfitt, who is a cousin by marriage of the homeowner, went to the scene to see how he could help.
""In the 30 years that I've been doing this, this is normally the type of fire where we pull up at and people are dead," the chief said.
Senterfitt said he couldn't be prouder of his 12-year-old second cousin.
"In our family, between firefighters and volunteer firefighters, I think we've had eight family members who have been firefighters. It looks like he's already headed down that path," Marty Senterfitt said. Just an incredible job."
The American Red Cross was helping the mother and children, ages 1, 4, 7, 9 and 12. News4Jax was told they will be staying with relatives for now.