BOGGS TWP, Armstrong County — A Cabot man is being hailed as a hero because he interrupted his work commute to investigate a house fire.

Co-workers of Brant Cirrincione, a nine-year PennDOT employee who is the Clarion County maintenance equipment manager, credit him with alerting a family of four that their home was on fire.

Cirrincione was headed to work Wednesday when he realized he forgot his wallet, forcing him to turn around and retrieve it. As he drove along Route 28/66 in Boggs Township, Armstrong County, about 7 a.m. he saw fire out of the corner of his eye, the source of which was a smoldering home.

“I really couldn’t tell you why or how I (got out of my truck,” Cirrincione said this morning.

“You do what you hope anybody would do in a situation like that. I started pounding on the side of the house, the windows, the doors. I didn’t even know if there was anybody in there.”

The family — a mother, father and their two toddlers — escaped to safety after Cirrincione managed to get their attention.

“When neighbor came out of the house, I hollered at him to call 911. Then, the front door opened and I saw (a woman) come out, yelling ‘my babies, my babies.’ Almost as soon as I went inside, I saw the father with both children. That was a relief to see,” he said.

Cirrincione was further delayed in his commute when his vehicle was blocked in by a fire truck.

“I called my mechanic supervisor who works in the shop and told him I’d be a little late, but I’d still be in,” said Cirrincione.

Deborah Casadei, a PennDOT spokeswoman, said this morning, “We are very proud of (Cirrincione). He is a hero. He contributed to saving those folks’ lives,” said.

“They were asleep and he woke them up. That is really quite a selfless act, and we will be recognizing him for it here, as well.”