LOWELL | In the case of an emergency, three West Creek Township residents and a Lake County police officer demonstrated Jan. 30 they have the right stuff.

That's why each of the four recently was presented with a Certificate of Bravery by the Lowell Volunteer Fire Department for the role each person played in pulling a 31-year-old Hebron woman from her burning vehicle.

Father-and-son team Michael Austgen and Matt Austgen, 16, as well as George Schilling and Lake County Officer Michael Equihua were recognized for their "outstanding performance and contribution" during Angela Brown's rescue.

Fire Chief Dwight "Ike" Rench said he has seen a lot of bravery in the 35 years he has been with the department.

"It's time to start recognizing these people," he said. "Had there been no one around, she would have been severely burned."

There were others, too, who stepped up to help rescue Brown after her car hit a tree and burst into flames near 181st Avenue and Hadder Road, Rench said. The four recognized, however, were key to removing her from the car -- as were firefighters and paramedics Charles Scott and Dennis Yuhasz, Rench said.

The Austgens were treated at the scene for minor injuries by Tri-Creek EMS, and Equihua was transported to St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point, where he was released after treatment for smoke inhalation.