A family in DeKalb County, Georgia, has a lot to be thankful for after escaping a house fire Friday morning.

The homeowner says it was thanks to the smallest member of the family that they all made it out safely. Advertisement

It was a hare-raising wake-up call.

Erlene Rivera said she woke up to her rabbit, Coco, thumping out a warning as flames threatened her home.

"He was jumping in the cage like he never had," she said. "He knew something was happening and he started jumping and jumping."

Authorities believe the fire started on the family's back porch — the same spot where they had gathered just one day earlier for Thanksgiving.

Kevin Cavanaugh with DeKalb County Fire Rescue said, "It appears they had a warming fire in the evening and had thought they had fully extinguished it on

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