Heroic Nurse Drives Truck Through California Wildfire To Help Save Lives

First of all, every one knows that California is  being ravaged by a devastating wildfire.  Second of all, these fires have already claimed the lives of 52 individuals.   Third, over 7 thousand buildings have been burnt to the ground.  Furthermore, most of the destroyed structures are homes.  Finally,  hundreds of people are missing. Friends and family members of those missing are looking on to social media to help find their loves ones.

In the wake of so much terror and loss, one man has committed an incredible act of bravery in an effort to save lives.

According to New York Times reporter Jack Nicas, a nurse named Allyn Pierce drove straight through the raging flames in order to help set up a makeshift hospital.

Allyn manages the ICU at Paradise’s hospital, Adventist Health,

He helped began and complete the quick evacuation of the patients Thursday morning.  The was done shortly before the fire began to sweep in. This is truly incredible.  Allyn is an American Hero.  With out hesitation, he jumped in his truck with two co workers and headed for safety.

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.

Allyn held his winter jacket against the window.  Totally futile against the intense heat from the flames.  He played Peter Gabriel’s ‘In Your Eyes’  on the radio.  The goal, to try to  calm himself and the others. He even recorded a goodbye message to his family and loved ones.  He said,  ‘Just in case this doesn’t work out, I want you to know I really tried to make it out.’”

“I was, ‘I think I’m done for,’” Pierce reported to the  The New York Times. “I just kept thinking, ‘I’m  going to pass in super heated plastic.’”  Allyn was one of the  lucky ones. A bulldozer knocked a burning truck out of the way, and he managed to escape.

But instead of heading for safety, he drove straight back to the hospital to help the injured.

First , a small help center was created.  Second, doctors and nurses  and other health care professionals had set up a makeshift hospital.  They broke into the hospital for gurneys, oxygen tanks & other gear & quickly went to work,  The location, a parking lot.  Finally, dozens of patients  were treated while fire raged around them.

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.”

When the hospital caught fire, they managed to move everyone safely to the hospital’s helipad.

All we at MED-Q can say is . “WOW”.  Another example of the extraordinary efforts that our health care providers give.  From the heart and soul.  Furthermore, Allyn doesn’t think his and other’s unbelievable efforts undoubtedly were extraordinary,  Hence, lives were saved.  Pierce doesn’t consider himself  any kind of  hero. “This is what we do .  It’s my Job,” he said. “All nurses, any healthcare worker, as well as an police officer or first res-ponder, all did their jobs   Allyn said, “We’re terrified of burning to death.  However,  we’re t taking care of patients.”