More than 10,000 structures, including many homes, have been destroyed as wildfires rage in Los Angeles. During the evacuation, countless pets were separated from their owners and lost in the chaos.
In a heartwarming moment from Altadena, ABC World News Tonight shared footage of a frightened dog begging firefighters for help during a massive fire. The video shows a firefighter petting the dog with one hand while fighting the flames with the other.
A dog named Max was left alone after firefighters had to move him to another home. A photographer at the scene later found Max and contacted Christopher, a local animal rescuer and dog trainer. Christopher, who was recording the moment, rescues Max and takes him to safety.
Christopher said he contacted Max’s family and assured them that the dog was safe and that they could pick him up at any time.
After Christopher’s video of Max’s rescue went viral on social media, donations soared, far exceeding the amount needed to rescue and rehabilitate Max.
In an interview with ABC World News tonight, Christopher said he plans to use the additional funds to help other pets affected by the Altadena wildfires.
Los Angeles is currently battling five major wildfires, including the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Lydia Fire, Hearst Fire, and Kenneth Fire. More than 180,000 people have been evacuated and at least 11 people have been confirmed dead, but the total death toll remains unknown.
Thousands of structures have been destroyed and firefighters continue to struggle to extinguish the blaze in Santa Ana’s strong winds.
Earlier, two men and a dog found themselves trapped in their Pacific Palisades home as blazes ravaged a mountainside in Los Angeles amid wildfires raging through Southern California. Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes as the flames spread rapidly.
A widely shared video on X showed the fire surrounding the site, with cameras capturing the scale of the destruction. In the video, a man gently pats the dog amidst the chaos and reassures it, “It’s okay.”
