Kevin Rivera, 22, was finishing his commute Saturday afternoon on Bluebird Drive in Syosset when he saw a fire raging in one of the homes. “I just rushed in because I didn’t want anyone to die in this house,” Rivera told CBS2. Rivera saw several family members through the front door who were apparently unaware of the flames, he told the Daily Mail, “One man came out and saw the fire, but he was so shocked he just stood there. Despite the language barrier, Rivera managed to evacuate the entire family, including a mother, her infant, three other children and a grandmother. Rivera was proud to share his story with CBS News.WCBS-TV When the family saw the flames, she said: “They just started crying. They were just moved.” Rivera also grabbed the family’s two dogs, a golden retriever and a smaller breed. Rivera’s selfless actions were captured on video by neighbor Amanda Johnson, whose husband is a firefighter with the Syosset Fire Department. She shared the video on Facebook, where she praised the driver’s intuition. The house was badly burned.WCBS-TV “A lot of people get away with doing things today, and he stepped up to that,” he told the Daily Mail. “It’s pretty amazing that Kevin did that.” Experts agree that the aftermath could have been much worse. A statement from the local police department confirmed that the $1.5 million home, which was last sold in 2021, was severely damaged and the family has been displaced. Neighbor Amanda Johnson captured the rescue on video.WCBS-TV / Amanda Johnson The cause of the fire is still under investigation. “I wanted to see if they’re okay and tell them I’ll always be there for them,” she said. Rivera told reporters his main concern was family.WCBS-TV “To be honest, it feels great to have done something,” Rivera added.
