LI Boy Hailed As Hero After Alerting Family Of 3-Alarm Blaze

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island boy was honored for his act of bravery after alerting his family to a fire in their home, effectively saving their lives.

Jamari Connors, 6, of Lindenhurst, was eating a snack after coming home from pee-wee football practice when he smelled smoke. Connors went to investigate, calling out from room-to-room alerting his family members, who were scattered in different parts of the house, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.

"He got me, my attention, I came down," William Connors, Jamari's grandfather, said. "That is when I saw the house was on fire. But getting back to Jamari -- he did a great job, he is a hero, but he don't understand what hero means."

Minutes later. the Connors' home on North Erie Avenue was enveloped in flames. Lindenhurst First Responders were able to control the three-alarm fire.

Babylon Councilman and firefighter Thomas Donnelly was one of several officials who presented Connors with a heroism award at a special ceremony honoring local acts of bravery.

Jamari's actions are said to have helped save his mother, grandfather, two cats and a dog.

Donnelly said. "We call that courage," Donnelly said.

The Connors lost all of their possessions in the fire and are currently living in a temporary trailer.

Jennifer Connors, Jamari's mother, said that despite the family's current circumstances, this Thanksgiving is more special than ever.

"A house can be rebuilt, a life can't come back," she said.