Human Interest Boy, 5, Saves 13 People from Fire After Being the Only One Awake When Home Went Up in Flames When asked how he knew what to do in the situation, Jayden Espinosa, 5, was quick to respond, "Because I'm smart and brilliant" By Joelle Goldstein Joelle Goldstein Instagram Twitter Joelle Goldstein is the Staff Editor of TV for PEOPLE Digital. She has been with the brand for five years, beginning her time as a digital news writer, where she covered everything from entertainment news to crime stories and royal tours. Since then, she has worked as a writer-reporter on the Human Interest team and an associate editor on the TV team. In her current role, Joelle helps oversee all things TV, and enjoys being able to say she has to watch The Kardashians, America's Got Talent, Love Is Blind and Dancing with the Stars for her "work" responsibilities. Prior to joining PEOPLE, Joelle was employed at The Hollywood Reporter, where she was co-nominated at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Magazine Article for feature cover story. She graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor's degree in Television-Radio (and an appearance in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four!) People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 29, 2019 07:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Fox 10 A little boy is being hailed as a hero for saving 13 people from a fire that had broken out in their Chicago home after the smoke detectors malfunctioned. Though he is only 5-years-old, Jayden Espinosa knew exactly what to do when a fire broke out early Saturday morning in his aunt’s South Marshfield/Back of the Yards duplex, Fox 32 News reports. “I smelled the smoke and I got up and went outside,” Jayden recalled to the local outlet of the terrifying incident over the weekend. “Auntie’s house was burning … I was scared!” It was about 4 a.m. when the fire suddenly broke out in the residence located on the 5000 block of South Marshfield, according to Fox 32 News. At the time, everyone in his aunt’s duplex was sleeping, including Jayden’s two sisters. Jayden, however, had woken up after smelling smoke in the home. Sensing that something was wrong, the kindergartener ran to wake up his aunt and family members and alerted them of the situation. RELATED VIDEO: 5-Year-Old Boy Saves His 2-Year-Old Brother from Fiery Accident He then hurried downstairs, knowing that the neighbors below him were still sleeping, and notified them of the fire as well. When asked how he knew what to do in the situation, Jayden was quick to respond, “Because I’m smart and brilliant.” “I got everyone out of that house because I was trying to save them,” Jayden added to Fox 32 News of his heroic actions. Boy, 13, Disobeys Mom to Watch TV Past Bedtime and Ends Up Saving Her from Late-Night Fire His mother, Tracey Espinosa, also explained that her son being in the right place at the right time was divine fate. “[Jayden] said that God has a plan … Everything will be okay,” she recalled to Fox 32 News. “He saved everyone. If he hadn’t got sent to his Auntie’s house Wednesday, then he would’ve never been there to get everybody out of the building.” In the days following the devastating fire, the American Red Cross has stepped in to assist Jayden’s aunt and cousins, while a GoFundMe fundraiser has also been set up to help the family “get back on their feet,” according to the outlet. As of Monday, the cause of the fire still remains under investigation by local authorities.