If it wasn’t for a passing cab driver, an Austin family might have died in a house fire.

Matthew and Odessa Duncan, along with their three children, have driver Sam McDonald to thank for alerting police after the Duncans’ home caught on fire around 3 a.m. last Sunday.

“It’s a feeling I can’t explain,” Odessa said, trying to gauge how grateful she was to Sam McDonald of AB Taxi.

According to the Duncans, McDonald was driving past their home at the 1900 block of Oakland Avenue East when he saw smoke coming from the house. At that point, he flagged down a police officer. Police later went inside and yelled for the family to leave the house.

Though the Duncans lost many of their possessions, they’re happy everyone is safe after what could have been a harrowing experience.

Matthew, Odessa and the three children were asleep at the time of the fire.

Austin firefighters later found the fire had started in the children’s bedroom and ruled the fire accidental. The house was declared a total loss with more than $60,000 worth of damage, but the Duncans’ insurance should cover most of their losses.

Though the Duncans have yet to speak with McDonald, Matthew’s sister, Malinda, already bought McDonald a thank-you card and met with him on Sunday.

“We want to meet with him,” Odessa said. “We’ve just now been meeting with everybody else with getting the house situated and trying to find somewhere else to stay.”