BUFFALO, N.Y. — The first thing Kashif Hakim noticed on his mail run through Idylwood Resort Apartment Homes was a woman leaving building 34 with her cat. 

"Two neighbors walked around a building and she kind of just tossed the can at the gentleman and asked to hold the card as a guide, struggling to hold the cat. So I'm looking like, what's going on?" Hakim said.

That’s when he saw the smoke coming out from the building. The lady told Kashif there was a fire and she had animals in the building. Kashif immediately went in and started knocking on doors to alert people to get out. 

"So I'm coming back around the building. One gentleman is like, 'was that you knocking on my door? I'm like, 'yeah.' He was like, 'oh, man, I appreciate it, man. I was in there laying down,'" he said.

With Hakim's mom being a nurse and dad a cop, he says helping people out is in his blood. 

"Quite honestly, [I] just feel regular. Like everyone's like, 'oh, you're a hero now.' Far from that. And not a teacher, not a police officer, just the daily mailman," he said.

Hakim was recognized by both the National Letter Carriers Association Branch 3 Buffalo as well as the city of Cheektowaga for his actions. 

"You know, it feels good to be recognized for helping you, you know what I mean? Today's society, it's always negative. Negative. So the shining bright light on any things is always good though," Hakim said.