Woman rescues 2 people from burning car, now urges others to prepare

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— A woman who rushed to help two strangers trapped in a burning van says the experience taught her she wasn't prepared for an emergency.

Valentina Aura wasn't trained to run toward a fire, but when she did, what she felt wasn't bravery. It was the fear of just how unprepared she was.

Emergencies don't give you time to prepare. Two strangers were trapped inside a burning van, and Aura knew the clock was ticking.

"I felt very helpless, and I felt like I wasn't prepared enough," Aura said.

"She made eye contact with me, and then she kind of slowly lost consciousness," she said.

Aura suddenly realized a familiar face was among the group trying to help. Her brother Blake was there by happenstance.

"I look into the street, and it's my brother Blake," Aura said. "He was covered in blood at this point, and he went back to help with the driver, and I, it was just kind of crazy that he was even there, because he had left so much earlier than I."

Brother and sister moved together to pull the woman from the vehicle. They worked as a team and got her out of the car, and Blake swooped her up and laid her down.

When crews arrived, Aura realized how vital preparation is. She has already ordered a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit for her car.

Aura plans to take her whole family to the fire department for Community Emergency Response Team training so they're more prepared next time.

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