MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Heartwarming moment pet owner cries with joy as he reunites with lost dog at burned LA home after thinking he was dead
The pooch had miraculously survived five nights alone
THIS is the heartwarming moment a pet owner reunited with his beloved dog after days of agonising search amid the deadly LA wildfires.
Casey Colvin broke down in tears of joy when his pup jumped into his arms after thinking he had been killed in the blaze.
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The Pacific Palisades resident had been desperately looking for Oreo since a massive wildfire swept through the area last week, destroying Colvin’s home and leaving the region in ruins.
Colvin was at work when evacuation orders were issued, sparking a frantic five-hour effort to fight through gridlocked traffic and get home to save his two dogs.
While firefighters managed to rescue one of his pets, Tika Tika Tika, Oreo fled in panic and disappeared, reports.
Just hours later, Colvin's home was engulfed in flames, leaving him devastated and fearing the worst for his missing pup.
Read more on the LA wildfires
Determined not to give up, he began a tireless search, posting flyers and seeking help from neighbors and even a dog tracker.
A breakthrough finally came days later, when Oreo was discovered sleeping amid the charred debris of what was once Colvin’s neighbor’s home.
The pooch had miraculously survived five nights alone, surrounded by the smoldering remains of the wildfire.
In an emotional video capturing the reunion, Colvin can be seen approaching Oreo with a squeaky toy in one hand and his other dog tucked under his arm.
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As he cooed gently to his frightened pet, Oreo cautiously approached before leaping into his arms.
Watch terrifying moment FIRENADOS rage through LA hills as firefighters face crucial 48hr window to finally stop blazes
Overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, Colvin cried out: “Oh, thank you, Jesus! Thank you, God!” as he clutched Oreo tightly.
“Hi, booboo, how’s the fire?” Colvin asked through tears as he stroked Oreo’s fur and held him close.
The reunion offered a glimmer of hope in the wake of the devastating Palisades Fire, which has ravaged the Los Angeles area.
As of Sunday evening, the fire — the largest of three burning in the region — had scorched over 23,700 acres and was only 13 per cent contained.
The Eaton Fire, the deadliest of the blazes, has claimed 11 of the 24 deaths registered so far.
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It had spread to more than 14,000 acres by Sunday, and was 27 per cent contained.
As the sheriff's office begins using cadaver dogs, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has warned that the death toll will probably continue to grow, with dozens more residents still missing.
Officials have warned that life-threatening conditions could worsen in the coming days, with strong Santa Ana winds expected to persist through Wednesday, further spreading the flames.
Displaced residents have been told they won’t be allowed to return to their homes until the red flag warning lifts later in the week.
LA could also face "explosive fire growth" in the coming days as blazing wildfires threaten to burn through more A-list neighborhoods.
Firefighters have been tirelessly fighting against the raging infernos which have decimated several regions of California with the threat of high winds set to cause further problems.
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For Colvin, however, the safe return of his furry companion has brought a sense of comfort amid the chaos.
“They deserve better than this,” he previously told a local NBC reporter, referring to his two dogs.
What caused the LA wildfires?
by Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter
THE devastating Palisades Fire, which has ravaged Los Angeles and claimed at least eight lives, is believed to have been reignited from scorch marks left by an earlier blaze that may have been sparked by New Year’s Eve fireworks.
According to an investigation by The Washington Post, remnants of the earlier fire, which burned in the Temescal Ridge area of the Santa Monica Mountains, could have been rekindled by strong winds six days later, setting the stage for one of California’s most destructive wildfires.
Satellite imagery and other data suggest the Palisades Fire began in the same area as the New Year’s Eve fire, which had been contained after burning four acres.
While the initial blaze was controlled in a few hours, the high winds and severe drought conditions leading up to the second fire created a perfect storm for reignition.
Michael Gollner, a fire scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, explained: “We know that fires rekindle and transition from smoldering to flaming.
"It’s certainly possible that something from that previous fire, within a week, had rekindled and caused the ignition.”
Nearby residents expressed frustration over what they described as a slower response time to the second fire.
Michael Valentine, who witnessed the start of both blazes, noted a stark difference.
“The first time around, the response was swift and impressive. The second, though, was slower and hindered by the high winds,” he said.
Valentine reported that when he and his wife called the Los Angeles Fire Department to report the Palisades Fire, the line was busy, and resources were delayed as crews responded to emergencies elsewhere in the city.
A helicopter attempting to deliver water early on was unable to operate due to the dangerous winds.
Valentine estimated it took 45 minutes before he saw any firefighting efforts, by which time the fire was spreading rapidly.
The delay led Valentine to take matters into his own hands, wetting down homes in his neighborhood and sustaining burns and injuries in the process.
Adding to the tragedy, local residents have pointed to the dangers of fireworks during drought conditions.
A nearby hiker, Darrin Hurrwitz, reported smelling smoke near the origin point an hour before the fire broke out but dismissed it when the scent disappeared.
Another resident blamed the New Year’s Eve revelers, saying: “You got to know better. It’s dry. There’s no precipitation… Then the Santa Anas came on Monday, and that’s what reignited the fire.”
While it remains uncertain whether the New Year’s Eve fire directly caused the Palisades Fire, both state and federal investigators continue to examine the burn scar area for clues.
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