As we watch and wait for news out of California, one incredible story of heroism has emerged from the wildfires.
A man, identified in the Twitter thread below Allyn Pierce, went twice back into the flames in his Toyota truck to rescue people in Paradise, California.
Pierce is a nurse who manages the ICU at Paradise's hospital, Adventist Health. His efforts were pivotal in getting patients out of harms way — and saving victims struggling to survive inside the city.
He was so sure he might die in this act of bravery that he neven recorded a goodbye message to his family while driving — with fires raging outside of his window.
His truck is nearly melted, but he survived. Now, Toyota has offered to buy him a new truck and a GoFundMe campaign was started for him. Pierce was quick to say helping the patients and survivors was a group effort, but it's clear he stepped up in the face of immense danger.
Read the harrowing Twitter thread:
Here's the crazy story of just one of the many heroes in Paradise, the town destroyed by California's deadliest fire ever. His name is Allyn Pierce, and he's the badass nurse who drove this truck through the flames. pic.twitter.com/xAL7zRf34H
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
In another touching moment amid the damage, a firefighter was seen taking efforts to save an American flag in the video below:
The lives lost and homes and businesses destroyed are a horrific tragedy, but it's obvious that a spirit of courage and compassion comes alive in Americans nationwide when catastrophe strikes.
We continue to think of and pray for those affected by the wildfires in California.