Palisades Fire Evacuee Meets Firefighter Who Helped Reunite Him with Missing Dogs

A Heartwarming Reunion

Casey Colvin, a Pacific Palisades Fire evacuee, recently had the opportunity to thank the firefighter who saved his two dogs. Colvin was working in the city when he learned of the Palisades Fire evacuations last week. He raced back, even renting a bike to get back to his two dogs inside his Pacific Palisades residence.

A Firefighter’s Heroic Act

When Colvin finally arrived five hours later, he couldn’t get past the roadblock. So a firefighter went for him, knocking down the door to his home. Brent Pascua, battalion chief with Cal Fire, was able to rescue one of Colvin’s dogs, but the other, Oreo, was still missing.

A Long and Difficult Search

The small, white blonde Pomeranian was missing for 5 days when Colvin got a call that Oreo was spotted in the debris and rubble at a neighboring property. Colvin was overjoyed to be reunited with his beloved pet.

An Emotional Reunion

NBC News’ Liz Kreutz was there for the emotional reunion. Colvin squeaked a toy, and Oreo, visibly spooked, squeezed through the residence’s gate and jumped into Colvin’s arms. “You’re alive! Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God,” Colvin exclaimed as he embraced Oreo.

A Heartfelt Thank You

This week, Colvin reunited with the man who saved his dogs amid the historic California wildfires. “This guy [Pascua] saved your life. This guy saved your life,” Colvin said with Oreo and Tika Tika Tika in hand. “And you look like a Ken doll!”

A Firefighter’s Perspective

Pascua told NBC News that bright moments of hope and gratitude like this amid so much devastation help because there’s been so much negative to process. “If that dog could talk he would have a story to tell. He would have a national best seller,” Pascua said of the pet rescue.

A Message of Gratitude

Colvin said he has never experienced anything like this before and was in the middle of a crisis when he met the firefighter. “By you leaving the door open, my dogs survived… My dogs would have died if it were not for you,” Colvin told Pascua.

Conclusion

The reunion between Colvin and Pascua is a heartwarming reminder of the importance of gratitude and appreciation, even in the midst of crisis. The Palisades Fire may have destroyed homes and displaced families, but it also brought people together in a shared experience of hope and resilience.

FAQs

Q: What was the Palisades Fire?
A: The Palisades Fire was a wildfire that broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 7, 2025.

Q: How did Casey Colvin lose his dogs?
A: Colvin was working in the city when he learned of the Palisades Fire evacuations. He raced back to his home, but was unable to get past the roadblock. A firefighter went for him, knocking down the door to his home, and rescued one of his dogs, but the other, Oreo, was still missing.

Q: How long was Oreo missing?
A: Oreo was missing for 5 days before Colvin received a call that she was spotted in the debris and rubble at a neighboring property.

Q: Who rescued Oreo?
A: Brent Pascua, battalion chief with Cal Fire, rescued Oreo from the debris and rubble.