( CNN ) -- A mother in Louisville , Kentucky , has died after saving her three children and two nieces by pushing them out the second-story window of her burning townhome . Bystanders who noticed the flames helped catch the children as Tomarra Finley guided them out on Thursday morning . After the five children were rescued , Finley , 31 , was found unconscious by firefighters . They gave her oxygen and CPR , but she died later of smoke inhalation . Fire Capt . Salvador Melendez said Finley braved tremendous heat and smoke in saving the children . `` It was even extreme for us , and we wear all this gear , '' he told CNN affiliate WDRB-TV of Louisville . `` We can only imagine what she went through . She did a brave thing . She made a sacrifice , but she did indeed save those children . '' Karey Hudson said he saw a child hanging out the window and ran to help . He said a man delivering newspapers came running up and told the child to jump . `` 'One of us will catch you , '' Hudson said the paper man told the child . Firefighters said that smoke alarms alerted Finley to the fire .
Tomarra Finley , 31 , dies rescuing five children from a burning townhome . Louisville , Kentucky , firefighters says Finley braved extreme heat and died of smoke inhalation . Two men helped catch the children as they went out a second-floor window .