Heroic 8-year-old saves family from Colorado Springs apartment fire

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- What started as a bike ride turned into a life-saving moment for an 8-year-old Colorado Springs boy, who spotted a fire and raced to warn his family before it was too late.

Now, that family is rebuilding after flames tore through their home at the Union Heights Apartment complex. They say they lost everything, but credit their son, Joaquin, with saving their lives after he noticed smoke while riding his bike outside.

"There was fire and smoke. I saw some black stuff falling down from the second floor," Joaquin said. "I was kind of curious too because I thought it was a grill. Because sometimes my dad's smoker does that, but not that big."

That smoke was the Apartment Fire. Joaquin, who is just 8-years-old, ran toward the fire to tell his family.

"I was running with my bike. I didn't have time to park it. I told my dad there's a fire. I'm not joking this time. Because I normally joke with him."

They got out of the house and alerted the neighbors, helping everyone to get out safely.

"It wasn't until after the firefighters were there and containing the fire that it kind of really dawned on me," Joaquin's father, Cody, said. "I had went to my son and just told him, 'You know what son? You did something very very brave, and Dad's really proud of you. He said it was a good day because God, Jesus, and my papa saw me do this and help save people."

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, according to officials.

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