Thiago DeCastro was just heading off to his classes at Kennesaw State University when he both smelled and saw the thick smoke coming from a nearby neighbor’s yard. DeCastro couldn’t know at that moment that he was soon to be a hero his neighbors would never forget.

Decastro found the whole backyard of the home on fire and quickly knocked on the door of the home to see if anyone was there. Dottie Tatum, his good neighbor, lived there, but she wasn’t home. However, her son-in-law and granddaughter were, but neither heard DeCastro’s frangtic knocking.

DeCastro tried to find a hose to put out the fire, but none was available. He also called 911 for help with the fire department. As he waited for the fire department he saw that the fire was roaring higher than the yard’s five foot privacy fence and was fearful if anyone was in the home.

The fire department arrived in about five minutes, but he said it seemed much longer. At that point, the occupants of the home realized what was going on and came out in disbelief. It was discovered that a lit cigarette had started the fire.

Decastro said he didn’t think he really did that much and just headed to class after the fire department got to the scene.  But his neighbors think otherwise, and call the young man a hero. They later thanked him for saving their home and probably their lives.

Castro just shrugged and said, I wouldn’t want my house to burn down like that, I had to help, it’s what good neighbors do.

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