Firefighters in Gaston County are raising money Friday to help a teenager injured in a recent crash.

“It's something that touched our heart,” said Brad Hall with the Union Road Fire Department. “It's something that we as a fire department wanted to reach out and do what we can.”

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, firefighters are selling barbecue to benefit Lesly Brown, who was injured in a fiery crash on Easter morning.

“When we pulled out of the station, all we could see is black smoke and we heard there was somebody still in the car.  It scared the death out of us,” Asst. Chief Harry Fields said.

Neighbors pulled Brown out of the burning SUV.

She doesn't remember that, or the faces of the firefighters who rushed to help.

On Friday, they met for the first time.

“It took my breath away,” Brown said.

She has no insurance, so they are raising money to pay for her mounting medical bills.

“It's just hard to think people now do this. It's just touched my heart,” Brown said.

She spent three weeks in the hospital after the crash.

“Her story in the weeks and days after the call -- that really touched our heart,” Hall said.

Brown said the money raised Friday will pay a big chunk of the medical bills she has already received.  She said there are still larger bills to come, but that the donation for now will allow her and family to focus on recovery.