Spiders, Fish, and Oysters Rescued! Meet the Heroes of LA Fires!

She had been compelled to evacuate her residence in the area six days ago. Now, she had returned for the animals.

“After all that devastation, and there’s still life here?” Simmel remarked, pointing to the over 23,000 acres scorched in the Palisades Fire. The possibility of their survival, of rescuing them, she described as “beautiful and amazing.”

Simmel, an unofficial volunteer on the frontlines of the pet rescue effort, found herself with the time to help after losing her job at a local supermarket in October and witnessing the dress shop where she assisted her friend burn down last week.

Pulling her Jeep into the driveway of her living quarters—a guesthouse she had occupied for the past 2-1/2 years—she entered through a wooden gate, relieved to see that both the main house and the guesthouse had been spared by the fires. Making her way toward a small pond, she greeted the seven koi fish.

“Hello!” Simmel exclaimed, peering into the water. “Are all of you here and well?”

All seven koi fish were present and healthy.

Simmel fed the fish while nearby homes lay in ruins. “It’s almost miraculous that the water didn’t get too hot to harm them,” she observed, referring to the fish that had been in the family for 15 to 20 years. Unable to relocate them, she could at least ensure they were fed. “It’s comforting for all of us who live here to have a sense of normalcy and peace of mind, knowing that these creatures of God will be okay for another night.”

Cowboy and Luna Stranded

Heartwarming tales of pet rescues in the Palisades abound. In Simmel’s case, there was the story of a 97-year-old man and his wife who needed help reuniting with their dog. Then there was the 35-year-old non-profit consultant who tirelessly returned to rescue his aging mother-in-law’s and her roommate’s cats after they had been forgotten during the evacuation.

Despite being turned away multiple times by the authorities, the consultant, Erik Morentin, was determined to rescue the cats. It was only with the help of Krissy and her friends that he was able to retrieve them, ultimately saving their lives.

As the evening approached and the sky darkened, Simmel’s white Jeep remained parked in front of the home with the well-fed koi. However, she wasn’t finished yet. Outside the guesthouse, she set out food for the birds and squirrels, mentioning a pet oyster that had survived the fire without water. “I hope he’s alright,” she said.

Driving out of the charred neighborhood, Simmel’s actions had made a significant impact in saving and caring for the animals in need.

He made a brief stop at Fire Station No. 69 where she embraced the firefighters, tears streaming down her cheeks. “God bless,” she whispered to each of them before making her way into the distinguishable Jeep, marked by a “Trust Jesus” bumper sticker on the lower corner of the front windshield.

“In that moment, we transition from strangers to a united family. That’s the truly beautiful aspect,” reflected Simmel.

With a sense of unity, she embarked into the night, driving away.

Author

Recommended news

Billy Crystal’s Terrifying Encounter with Martin Scorsese at NYU ‘He Was Intense!’

Billy Crystal fondly reminisced about his time as a student under the iconic Martin Scorsese. At the age of...
- Advertisement -spot_img