Texas teen saves family from fire only she could smell

Por Chloe Atkins – NBC News

A Texas teenager took her family to safety after a terrifying fire raged through her home in Waco, Texas, last week.

Bianca Rivera, 19, quickly evacuated her family, who did not realize the house was on fire after losing their sense of smell due to COVID-19. Rivera, who was not infected, woke up early in the morning on January 15 to the smell of burning plastic.

“I ran out of my room and found a lot of smoke in the hallway. As soon as I turned around, the entire front of the house was on fire. That’s when I knew I had to get everyone out,” stated Rivera .

[Esta familia latina enfrenta el doloroso contagio de COVID-19 de 16 miembros]

About 86% of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus lose their sense of taste 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 broke out around 2:30 a.m. on his one-story apartment, Rivera said. The teenager woke up her family and helped them escape through the back door, including her sister Edelmira Rivera, 22, and Edelmira’s boyfriend, Steven López, 22, and their 15-month-old son Sebastián.

His family’s friends, Adrián Ramírez, 45, Francisca Torres, 41, and their children Brissa, 11, and Sergio, 15, were also in the house at the time. He then returned to rescue his four dogs.

[El COVID-19 mató a cuatro personas de una familia texana. Ahora quieren que su tragedia sirva de ejemplo]

Moments after everyone escaped, the house caught fire and they lost everything, including equipment from their lawn care business. Rivera, who suffered minor burns, said she was thankful that no one was seriously injured in the fire.

Waco Fire Department Chief Gregory Summers said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

“We are very proud of Bianca’s actions in getting everyone out of the house safely. We reached out to the family to recognize them for their efforts to save lives, ”said Summers.

[Al menos 12 personas de una misma familia se contagian de COVID-19 en una fiesta en Texas]

Rivera’s parents, Carlos, 41, and Delmi, 43, who were at work when the fire broke out, called their daughter a “hero.”

“I can’t believe I was in a dangerous situation and trying to save everyone.”Delmi pointed out.

The family have already recovered from the coronavirus infection and are staying at a friend’s house while they search for a new home. Despite the near-death experience, the family said they are determined to rebuild their lives.

“God is giving us strength,” Delmi said.

–