When the devastating Palisades Fire tore through California on January 7, Casey Colvin lost almost everything. His home was reduced to ashes, roads were shut down, and evacuation orders spread chaos across the area. But amid the destruction, Casey’s deepest fear wasn’t about property — it was about his two dogs, Oreo and Tika Tika Tika. Trapped at work when the fire broke out, Casey rushed back the moment he heard the news, even renting a bike to get there faster. Five hours later, he arrived only to find emergency crews blocking access. His home was unreachable, and his dogs’ fate was unknown.
That’s when Cal Fire battalion chief Brent Pascua stepped in. Without hesitation, Pascua broke into the burning house, pushing through smoke and flames. He managed to rescue one dog, but Oreo, a small blonde Pomeranian, was nowhere to be found. As the fire continued to devastate the neighborhood, Casey was left with heartbreak and uncertainty. For five long days, he searched through the wreckage, clinging to hope that Oreo had somehow survived the inferno.
Then came the call that changed everything. Oreo had been spotted wandering through debris at a nearby property. Casey rushed over, heart racing, squeaking a toy and calling his dog’s name. Suddenly, a soot-covered Oreo squeezed through a gate and leapt straight into his arms. Overwhelmed with emotion, Casey cried out, “You’re alive! Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God!” The powerful reunion was captured on camera, quickly touching hearts across the country.
Days later, Casey finally met Pascua to thank him face to face. Holding both dogs, he told them, “This guy saved your life,” before jokingly adding, “And you look like a Ken doll!” Pascua humbly said moments like these keep him going. For Casey, the firefighter’s bravery meant everything. “If you hadn’t left that door open,” he said through tears, “my dogs wouldn’t be here today.”