Meet Allyn Pierce, a nurse in Paradise, Calif., which just suffered the most deadly wildfire in the state’s history. Here is Allyn’s Toyota pickup truck before the blaze…
…now here is what it looks like after he used it to drive back into the town of Paradise to help rescue patients stuck at the hospital:
More on Allyn’s story via Jack Nicas of the NYT which included how he almost died on the way out of town:
Here's the crazy story of just one of the many heroes in Paradise, the town destroyed by California's deadliest fire ever. His name is Allyn Pierce, and he's the badass nurse who drove this truck through the flames. pic.twitter.com/xAL7zRf34H
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Allyn manages the ICU at Paradise's hospital, Adventist Health, and helped spark the quick evacuation of patients Thursday morning as the #CampFire swept in. Then he hopped in his truck with two colleagues and headed for safety.
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Like many residents in Paradise, they quickly hit gridlock. But unfortunately for them, they were stuck in the middle of the fire. Flames licked at the side of his truck, and as Allyn watched other cars catch fire, he thought his was next. Here was his view. pic.twitter.com/2fACEWn4tu
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Allyn held his coat against the window – a futile guard from the intense heat – and put on Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” to calm himself. He recorded a goodbye message to his family: “Just in case this doesn’t work out, I want you to know I really tried to make it out."
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Suddenly a bulldozer appeared & knocked a burning truck next to him out of the way. There was some room to maneuver. But instead of going forward toward safety, he turned around & drove back into the heart of Paradise. Here's the aftermath of his Tacoma. (The lights still work.) pic.twitter.com/LLUU1fDfYv
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Allyn ended up back at the hospital and quickly realized injured Paradise residents were also there, looking for medical help. “Now all of us are like, ‘Oh, this is what we do,’” he recalled. “We're terrible at burning to death, but we're amazing at taking care of people.”
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Doctors, nurses, paramedics & police started a triage center in the hospital parking lot. They broke into the hospital for gurneys, oxygen tanks & other gear & quickly went to work, treating about two dozen people while the fire raged around them. Photo: Noah Berger/AP. pic.twitter.com/SOOZidkfOF
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Then the hospital caught fire. The team quickly relocated the patients 100 yards away to the hospital’s helipad. Eventually authorities cleared a path to safety, so they loaded up the victims & drove out in a caravan. Everyone made it out safely.
Photo: Jim Wilson/NYT @jwnyt pic.twitter.com/9aaX6c7HSc
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Allyn stressed the triage was a massive group effort — and that they weren't heroes. “This is what we do,” he said. “Any nurse, any healthcare worker, any cop, they were there and they all did their jobs.”
Allyn's Instagram: https://t.co/GW2L2jS97w
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
For more on Allyn's story and other narrow escapes and harrowing tales from the wildfires raging across California, read @jdelreal's and my story here: https://t.co/HHwwEUeLeA
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
Allyn has set up a GoFundMe to help with his expenses:
And it looks like Toyota USA is coming through, big time, to help the local hero:
Some good news for Allyn: Looks like @Toyota is getting him a new truck. pic.twitter.com/r0gauofHuZ
— Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) November 13, 2018
***
Related:
PHOTOS, VIDEO: 'Parade of Flags' tradition in Paradise, Calif. goes on despite devastating #CampFire https://t.co/Lm2ZLVquPD
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 12, 2018
ICYMI==> INSANE: Environmental groups in Calif. want PG&E to cut down *FEWER* trees near power lines #CampFire https://t.co/lhbZdRjnT6
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 12, 2018
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