Two brothers who used to fight all of the time are now closer than ever after one brother saved his younger brother from a burning house.

On June 11, 12-year-old Lekendrick Woods became the hero in his family. He awoke to the sound of his mother’s screams and to find his home at 1713 Martin Luther King Jr. St. engulfed in flames.

Lekendrick, whose nickname is “Pumpkin,” quickly ran outside. That’s when he realized his younger brother, Danny Tate, 9, was still inside.

Without thinking of his own safety, Lekendrick ran back into the burning house and rescued his brother.

These days the brothers get along better and are thankful to have each other. Their mother, Betty Woods, said she feels blessed that Lekendrick was there to save his brother’s life.

“He’s my hero. And I want everyone else to know that kids can be heroes too,” Woods said. &uot;Once I got outside and found out “Man Man” (Danny’s nickname) &uot;was inside the house, I tried to go in the house and get him, but my cousin held me back.

“That’s when Pumpkin ran past all of the adults standing outside and went inside the house. Time he came out with Danny, the roof collapsed,” Woods said.

“God allowed Pumpkin to be here on that day because he normally would have been gone to Georgia to visit his father for the summer,” she said.

Indeed, Lekendrick is in Georgia now. He spoke with The Times-Journal by phone from Atlanta.

“When I found out my brother was in the house, I thought, ‘That’s my brother. I gotta go get him &045;&045; and I just did. I didn’t think about getting burned or anything,'” Lekendrick said.

According to Selma Fire & Rescue officials, the fire was caused by an electrical problem and is still under investigation.

Woods and her three children are living with their mother until they can find a permanent place to live. The family lost everything in the fire and are in desperate need of clothing, underwear, shoes and other items.

Those interested in making a donation to the Woods family can drop by the American Red Cross at 812 Selma Ave. or call 874-4641.