Man saves brother with special needs from burning home

HAYWARD, Calif. (KTVU) - An 18-year-old is being called a hero after saving his brother from their burning home.

Firefighters arrived at the home in Hayward around 8:45 on Friday night. When they got there, there was fire and smoke throughout the building.

Before firefighters got there, they say the 18-year-old son jumped from a 2nd floor window to the ground below, then grabbed an extension ladder and used it to climb into another window-  to save his 13-year-old brother with special needs.

The younger brother was taken to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland to be treated for smoke inhalation. He is in stable condition.

A neighbor rushed over to help out saying, "it is pretty heroic, they seem like a tight family, very caring about each other."

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the fire under control. It appears to have started in the living room. Firefighters say it is not safe to live there at this time and the family will be staying with relatives.