Jersey Shore boy saves family from mobile home fire

     Kane O'Conner is flanked by police and fire officials along with his family at a school assembly in Egg Harbor Township.

    Kane O'Conner is flanked by police and fire officials along with his family at a school assembly in Egg Harbor Township.

    Authorities are praising an 8-year-old Atlantic County boy for waking his family as a fire consumed their mobile home.

    Fire and school officials in Egg Harbor Township on Thursday presented the “Hero” award to Kane O’Connor during a school assembly. The boy also received gift baskets and toys. 

    He was sleeping last Saturday night when he saw fire in the bedroom that he shared with his 4-year-old sister.

    Officials say he helped her out of the room and he they awakened his parents. The family got out safely before flames destroyed their home.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    According to a GoFundMe fundraiser for the family, the mobile home was reduced to “metal and ash, as is everything inside.” You can donate by clicking here

    The fire has been ruled accidental.

    A local fire official told the Press of Atlantic City that Kane’s story “is exactly why we go out into the schools and into the community — to teach kids what to do when this happens.”

    —————————————————————-

    The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal