A heartwarming video captures the moment a homeowner reunited with his beloved dog days after losing his home in the deadly Los Angeles wildfires.
Wildfires have wreaked havoc across California. Credit: VCG / Getty
Amid the devastation caused by the wildfires, which have wreaked havoc across California, one emotional reunion has offered a glimmer of hope.
Casey Colvin, a Pacific Palisades resident who lost his home to the raging blaze, broke down in tears as he was reunited with his dog Oreo after a desperate search.
The emotional moment was captured on camera as the owner held his pup tightly, and cried with relief after fearing the worst. “Oh my God, You’re alive!” he cried, stroking Oreo’s fur. “Oh Thank you, Jesus, oh thank you, God!”
He then fist-pumped the air and shouted for joy in the road and promised to “never let him go”.
Watch the heartwarming moment below:
The wildfires forced Colvin into a race against time last week when evacuation orders were issued. At the time, the man was at work and spent five hours trying to get through traffic in an attempt to return home and save his dogs, NBC reported.
Firefighters managed to save one of his pets, Tika Tika Tika, but Oreo fled and disappeared into the surrounding area. Hours later, Colvin’s home was engulfed in flames, leaving him heartbroken and fearing that his dog tragically died.
However, he was determined not to give up and launched a search, posting flyers, seeking help from neighbors, and enlisting a dog tracker to aid in the search.
Days later, a breakthrough finally came when Oreo was found sleeping on the charred remains of a neighbor’s home. Miraculously, the dog had survived five nights alone, surrounded by the smoldering debris of the wildfire, per Daily Mail.
The reunion with the pup provided a moment of joy for Colvin. “I literally rescued them off the street,” he said about his dogs. “They deserve better than that. How do I get to my house?”
Firefighters spray water to combat flames at sunset in Pacific Palisades, California. Credit: NurPhoto / Getty
As of the time of writing, the Palisades Fire – the largest of three blazes tearing through Los Angeles – had burned over 23,700 acres and was only 14 percent contained. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire had grown to 14,117 acres and was 33 percent contained, per CAL.
According to the BBC, at least 24 people have died in the fires and 23 others are missing, while more than 90,000 are under evacuation orders.
Officials warn that the situation could worsen in the coming days as strong Santa Ana winds are expected to persist, potentially fueling “explosive fire growth”.
Displaced civilians have been told that they will not be allowed to return home until the red flag warning is lifted.
