Doubtless there are hundreds or even thousands of stories of heroism that will emerge in the wake of the wildfires tearing through California, but this one was getting national attention over the weekend, and for good reason.

Auto Trader's Kelly Pleskot reports that Toyota has offered to replace a Tundra pickup truck an ICU nurse used to drive into the flames in Paradise, California and evacuate patients under his care.

Allyn Pierce posted a photo of his truck, nicknamed "The Pandra", to social media, and you can see that the fire really did a number on it. If Pierce's Instagram page is any indication, that truck is his baby, but when it came time to do the right thing and save lives he didn't hesitate to put The Pandra (and himself) in harm's way.



Pierce wrote that the vehicle saved his life, as well as the people rescued. He also praised the first responders who also risked their lives to save others.

When the photo came to Toyota's attention, the company responded, "We are humbled you'd risk your life and Toyota Tundra to drive people to safety. Don't worry about your truck, we're honored to get you a new one!"

It's a welcome bit of positive news from a situation that has been devastating to the Golden State.

CBS News reports that the "Camp Fire" in Northern California has so far claimed at least 76 lives and left 1,276 people unaccounted for. It had consumed over 149,000 acres as of Saturday.

The "Woolsey Fire" raging just outside of Los Angeles has burned over 98,000 acres, and thick smoke from the blaze has blanketed the area. That fire has killed 3 people and destroyed 713 structures.

 

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