A Texas teenager pulled her family to safety after a big fire broke out in her home in Waco, Texas, last week.
Bianca Rivera, 19, quickly evacuated her family, who did not realize that the house was on fire after losing their sense of smell due to Covid-19. Rivera, who did not have the virus, said he woke up early on the morning of January 15 when he smelled burning plastic.
“I ran out of my room and was hit by a lot of smoke in the hall and as soon as I turned around, the entire front of the house was on fire,” Rivera told NBC News. “That’s when I knew I had to get everyone out of there.”
About 86% of patients with mild forms of Covid-19 lose their sense of taste and / or smell, compared with 4 to 7% of those with moderate to severe cases, according to a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
The fire started at about 2:30 am in the one-story house, Rivera said. The teenager said she woke up her family and helped them escape through the back door, including her sister Edelmira Rivera, 22, and Edelmira’s boyfriend, Steven Lopez, 22, and their 15-month-old son, Sebastian. Her family’s friends, Adrian Ramirez, 45, Francisca Torres, 41, and their children Brissa, 11, and Sergio, 15, were also at the house at the time. She said that she then returned to the house to rescue her four dogs.
Rivera said that moments after everyone escaped, the house caught fire and they lost everything, including equipment from their gardening company. Rivera, who suffered minor burns, said he was grateful that no one was seriously injured in the fire.
Waco Fire Chief Gregory Summers said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
“We are very proud of Bianca’s actions to get everyone out of the house safely. We are contacting the family to acknowledge them for their rescue efforts, ”said Summers.
Rivera’s parents, Carlos Rivera, 41, and Delmi Rivera, 43, who were working when the fire broke out, called their daughter “heroin”.
“I cannot believe that she was in a dangerous situation and was trying to save everyone,” said Delmi Rivera.
As of now, the Rivera have recovered from Covid-19 and are at a friend’s house while looking for a new home. Despite the near-death experience, the family said they are determined to rebuild their lives.
Delmi Rivera added: “God is giving us strength now”.