A firefighter in California was seen on dashcam footage risking his life to save a man and his dog in the middle of an Airport Fire in the El Cariso neighborhood.
The footage showed the heroic firefighter, Division Chief Crater, driving through the flames and yelling out to the man on the road: ‘Hey, can I get you out of here?’
After the man responded asking if he can bring the dog, Crater called back saying: ‘Yeah, I don’t care- bring the dog. Let’s go man I want you out of here.’
The firefighter urged him to ‘throw’ anything in the car over to the side so the man could get into the backseat keeping hold of the dog.
A man and his dog were rescued from the El Cariso neighborhood which was engulfed in flames as evacuation warnings urged residents out of the area
Firefighter Division Chief John Crater drove through the flame engulfed neighborhood and rescued the unidentified man and his dog from the side of the road
Evacuation warnings have been issued with care and reception sites and animal shelters across Orange and Riverside County
The unidentified man told Crater that he was attempting to combat the fire and heat with a hose.
Crater followed up with him making sure he wasn’t injured and as they pulled away through the flames the firefighter asked if anyone was left in the area.
To which the man responded: ‘Yeah, I’m the only one left over here.’
Crater said in the footage that the area where the man was stranded was about to be closed off.
The fire, that broke out on Monday afternoon, called for evacuations across Orange and Riverside California counties and the source is currently being investigated.
The Riverside and Orange County Airport Fire has currently injured 12 people and is one of three fires across Southern California covering 100,000 acres
Riverside County Fire Department released the video on Thursday evening saying: ‘Firefighters at every level are the heart of our department, going above and beyond to protect those in need. We couldn’t be prouder of their unwavering commitment and selflessness.’
Crater, a husband and father of two children, began his firefighting career as a volunteer in 1994 in Perris, California.
The Airport Fire that has currently injured 12 people is one of three fires tearing through Southern California this week covering 100,000 acres, reported CBS News.
Firefighters are working to slow the spread and maintain the fire by dropping fire retardant around the fire perimeter.
Evacuation warnings have been issued with care and reception sites and animal shelters across Orange and Riverside County on the California Government website.
