7-Year-Old Tennessee Boy Rescues Baby Sister From Raging House Fire

A family is counting their blessings after they all escaped a raging house fire that destroyed their East Tennessee home. They also are celebrating their unexpected hero: a 7-year-old boy who rescued his baby sister from the burning home.

On Tuesday (December 15), Nicole Davidson was woken up in the middle of the night to see smoke and flames in her New Tazewell home. Fortunately, she and her husband, Chris, are both former firefighters and immediately knew what to do. Chris began working on the fire while Nicole rushed to get their three children.

"He grabbed the fire extinguisher trying to buy me time to get the kids, and I grabbed the boys because they were closest to the fire," said Nicole.

While the parents and two children were able to make it outside the home, flames in the living room had kept Nicole from reaching her sleeping 22-month-old daughter. They went to her bedroom window, and Chris lifted up their 7-year-old son Eli so he could get in and rescue her.

"Dad busted the window and then I said, 'I can't do it,' like two times, and then I said, 'I got her dad,'" said Eli. "And when we went down there I said, 'I was scared but I didn't want me sister to die.'"

Eli was able to get his baby sister out of her crib and safely outside. Thankfully, no one was injured during the fire, which investigators suspect was caused by an electrical issue. No official cause has been determined.

The home was deemed a total loss after being completely destroyed by the flames, but the family is still together and staying with a nearby family member.

Photo: Getty Images