SAN ANTONIO -- A man rescued a mother and her two children who were trapped inside a burning home Thursday afternoon on the city's West Side.

Orlando Rosales saved Valerie Flores and her son and daughter from the flames that consumed their home at the intersection of 38th and Segura streets.

Rosales, who was eating lunch at the time, said he immediately ran to the family's rescue when he saw Flores' children through a window of the burning home.

"They were crying and screaming (and) banging on the window," Rosales said. "I could see them trying to open them. I couldn't believe my eyes."

Flores had tried to open the window, but it was bolted down.

When she tried to open the door, the flames began to spread even more.

Rosales grabbed a steel frame from outside the home and broke out some of the windows.

He helped the children and Flores out of the shattered windows and handed them to a bystander standing nearby just before flames consumed the room.

"I just handed the kids to him and as soon as I got them out, the place went up," Rosales said.

Flores said she was grateful ro Rosales for risking his life to save her and her two children, Michael and Kiana.

"I thank him because he could have hurt himself," Flores said.

Fire officials said the home is likely was a complete loss.

Investigators suspect an electrical shortage caused fire.