Asian American LAPD Officer Heroically Rescues Cat in SoCal Wildfire

Officer Tae Kim was going door to door in Bel-Air when he came across a cat that appeared to be in distress. The cat was in a house with the front door open. No one seemed to be home, so Kim carried it to his patrol car to keep it safe, according to TODAY.

“For somebody it’s their companion, family member,” LAPD spokesperson Sergeant Hector Guzman told TODAY. “It could be their everything.”

The cat that was rescued by Office Kim was fortunately unharmed and reunited with its owners; however, many wild and barn animals were not so lucky. Virginia Padilla, a horse owner, told CNN her 7-year-old horse, Ruben, was burned over 65% of his body during the Creek fire.

“It’s awful. There’s no words to explain it. I’m very fortunate he’s alive because, I mean so many people have lost their horses,” Padilla said.

The Skirball fire broke out at 4:52 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6 near the 405 freeway and Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, California. Twelve Structures were damaged and six were completely destroyed, according to Los Angeles Daily News. Over 422 acres were burned during the fire. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued and roads were closed up until Sunday afternoon on December 10, when residents were finally allowed to return back to their homes.

Featured Image via FaceBook / Deborah Von Brod