A neighbor rescued three boys from their burning home early yesterday in Hazelwood.

The fire was reported at 2:23 a.m. as burning debris in a front yard in the 400 block of Kilbourne Street, fire officials said.

While firefighters were on route, the report was updated to say flames had ignited a vacant house.

Within minutes, as the first fire trucks arrived at the scene, the fire had spread to a second house, occupied by the three boys, and a third structure.

The two-alarm fire was controlled in about a half-hour, fire officials said.

A witness said the rescuer had to forcibly enter the house to look for the occupants.

He told fire officials that the rescuer had to awaken the three boys, the oldest of whom is 15, and escort them from the burning home.

The boys' mother was at work at the time.

One firefighter was injured and hospitalized. The extent of his injury and his condition were not available.

Damage was estimated at $30,000. The cause is under investigation.