SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A young Springfield student was honored by Mayor Domenic Sarno on Tuesday after springing into action during a housefire.

On May 19, fifth-grader Israel Payne alerted a dozen neighbors living at a Longview Address and called 911 following a fire.

Investigators say the fire was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. Payne said it was just something he did, taking action as soon as he saw the flames.

Hundreds of students gathered in the Gerena School Auditorium on Tuesday to honor his bravery.

Mayor Sarno declared June 2 “Israel Payne Day” and Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi gifted him a Coin of Excellence. When the school heard about the honors, they knew the fifth-grader deserved his time in the spotlight.

“The mayor’s office reached out to us, letting us know that they wanted to honor him,” said Gerena Community School Principal Cynthia Escribano. “And, of course, we had to make a big thing about it here, because Israel was just a hero.”

Payne summed up his school’s outpouring of support in two words.

“It’s awesome,” he said.

Calvi said seeing Payne’s peers celebrate his bravery and understand how his actions could’ve saved lives made the ceremony even more meaningful.

“You know, it lets them see what they can be,” he said. “Let’s other kids see that it’s good to be a helper and good to help people and get involved in their communities.”

Superintendent Sonia Dinnall made an appearance and Payne’s family even got a front row seat.

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