Quick-thinking 7-year-old alerts family of burning home - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

Quick-thinking 7-year-old alerts family of burning home

Posted: Updated:
  • Most Read StoriesMost Read

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:24 AM EDT2013-05-21 12:24:35 GMT
    The car you drive may have one and you may not even know it. Event data recorders collect several pieces of information seconds before a crash such as: speed, brake pressure, and seat belt use. Troopers
    The car you drive may have one and you may not even know it. Event data recorders collect several pieces of information seconds before a crash such as: speed, brake pressure, and seat belt use.
  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 12:23:58 GMT
    A restaurant owner who got snagged in a gambling probe that grew out of the Brett Parker double murder investigation took the stand, as the trial entered its third week. The juror heard testimony Monday
    A restaurant owner who got snagged in a gambling probe that grew out of the Brett Parker double murder investigation took the stand, as the trial entered its third week. The juror heard testimony Monday
  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:36 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:36:49 GMT
    (RNN) – A day after long track tornadoes devastated Shawnee and Edmond, OK, another round has begun near Oklahoma City.KOCO broadcast a slow rotating cloud that slowly extended down towards the ground
    Dozens of people have died after a second day of tornadoes twisted through Oklahoma, this time taking aim at the town of Moore, south of Oklahoma City.
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -

A 7-year-old is being hailed a hero for saving his family Tuesday night when their home caught fire due to a portable fan shorting out.

De'marion Dwyer saw flames inside his Ferrel Drive home and immediately ran and told his family.

"I was watching TV and I smelled it," Dwyer said. "I thought something was cooking, and when I looked through the door, I saw fire."

"So I had to warn everybody in the house to get out."

Fire officials honored Dwyer with a firefighter's badge for his efforts.

"We just can't commend this young child enough on what he did," said Columbia-Richland Fire Department spokesman Brick Lewis said. "The actions he took to protect his family is such a good thing and we commended him, and we will later at another time as well."

The family is not able to stay in the home because of the extensive damage.

Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.