A 12-year-old boy is being called a hero after he risked his life to save his four younger siblings from their burning home, Local 15-TV reports.
Justin Jackson was sleeping in the living room with his three younger brothers over the weekend when a fire began in their Milton, Fla., home.
"I woke up and I saw fire on the curtains," said Justin's brother, Emilio.
Justin, 12, immediately leapt into action, getting his brothers 5-year-old William, 6-year-old Diego and 9-year-old Emilio out of the house.
"I knew the house was going to be gone. I knew we had to move," he said.
Once his brothers were safely outside, Justin tried to alert his neighbors.
When no one responded, he ran back into the burning house. His 3-year-old sister, Brooklynn, was asleep in a bedroom, the Pensacola News Journal reports.
"I had to pick her up and she was real stiff. I was just real scared at that point," said Justin, who managed to bring Brooklynn to safety in time.
According to UPI, Justin ran back into the house once more -- this time, to call 911.
"There aren't enough words to describe how proud I am of Justin. He's my hero," said mother Tiffanie Jackson to Local 15-TV.
Justin insists that he was just doing what he needed to do.
"I was just helping my family and stuff," he said.
The Pensacola News Journal reports that Justin was the oldest person in the home when the fire broke out. His father was out of town on business and his mother was working a night shift at a nursing home.
Milton Fire Chief John Reble said the home is a complete loss, UPI reports.
Emilio told Local 15-TV that he wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for his brave big brother.
"I love him all the way to the universe and back," he said.
Note: There is a discrepancy between various news sources as to Justin's last name. The Daily Mail and NY Daily News, for instance, have referred to him as Justin Allen. In addition, Justin's younger sister's name has been spelled in two different ways -- both Brooklyn and Brooklynn. In both instances, we have followed the name and spelling used by the majority of news sources.
Photos from the Jackson family home fire:
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