A 17-year-old Corpus Christi teen rushed into a burning mobile home Tuesday night and helped rescue a trapped woman, according to neighbors and family.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A 17-year-old Corpus Christi teenager is being credited by neighbors and family members with helping rescue a woman from a burning mobile home Tuesday night.

Cody Lankford said he and his father, Barry Lankford, had just pulled into their driveway in northwest Corpus Christi when they noticed flames engulfing a neighboring home.

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Moments later, he heard someone yelling for help from inside.

“I heard someone yelling for help from inside,” Cody said. “I kicked the door down — I didn’t know I could do that — but there was just too much smoke and fire.”

Unable to reach the woman through the doorway, Lankford said they moved to a window.

“We ended up going to the window and pulling the window apart and pulling her through there,” he said.

Lankford said his experience in the Junior ROTC program at Miller High School helped give him the confidence to act.

“I think ROTC probably helped me with the confidence part,” he said. “If this was back in freshman year, I don’t think I would’ve ever been able to run up to a burning building.”

Barry Lankford said he was stunned when he saw his son run toward the flames.

“I never thought he would run that direction — toward a fire,” Barry Lankford said. “I’m just really proud of my son for what he did. I never thought I would see anything like that. I’m very proud of him. I can’t say that enough.”

The Corpus Christi Fire Department arrived minutes later and extinguished the fire before it spread to nearby properties. Officials confirmed an adult woman was transported to a hospital.

Fire officials said the cause of the blaze remains undetermined. They also said they could not independently confirm the details of the rescue.

As for Cody, the teen said the experience reinforced his desire to serve others. He hopes to join the U.S. Army after graduation.

“I’ve got plenty of people at home I’d love to protect,” he said. “If I can protect them and the rest of America, I’d love to.”