Heroic Body Cam Footage Shows Deputies Rescuing 100-Year-Old Woman Left Behind At Senior Home In California Wildfires: “Don’t Lose Me”

We're still hearing harrowing rescue stories from the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of California. The Los Angeles area has a long road to recovery after wildfires that sparked in early January wreaked havoc on the city. Entire neighborhoods were wiped off the map as the Palisades and Eaton fires collectively burned over 36,000 acres. Firefighters fought to contain the fires in what could only be described as nightmare conditions. It’s only been in recent weeks and days that the fires have reached levels of over 95% containment. The blazing and uncontrollable fires were started in the residential community known as the Pacific Palisades, and unfortunately, the natural disaster has claimed the lives of at least 29 people and have left hundreds (if not thousands) of people without a home in the greater Los Angeles area. There was a lot of displacement caused by this natural disaster, and this video below shows how panicked and rushed evacuating certain areas in the potential path of wildfires can be. Back on January 8th, an evacuation order was given to a senior living complex that's located in the Altadena area. As the wildfires moved in, Deputies Nicholas Martinez and Quinn Alkonis of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department risked their lives to make sure that no one was left behind. They were deployed to the area basically to double check that everyone had been moved out of harm's way. When they got to the senior living building, they were surprised to find that it had not been fully evacuated. They first encountered a woman who was coming back to the facility from walking her dog. They informed her that her residence was no longer safe, and that the wildfire was closing in. She couldn't confirm if there was anyone else in the senior living complex, so the deputies went in to do one final sweep before moving on. And it's a good thing that they did, because they ran into a 100-year-old woman that had been left behind in the building. Body camera footage shows the Martinez and Alkonis checking every room using their flashlights, as the power to the building had already gone out. At one point, they hear a voice off in the distance and rush to find the source. Sure enough, there was an disoriented old woman using her walker to get around - and she was trying to find a way out. Here's the conversation they shared once the woman - who was deaf and couldn't get her hearing aids to work - was discovered by the deputies:

Deputy: "Hello? Where are you at?"

Woman: "I've been trying to find a way out."

Deputy: "Let's get you out of here."

Woman: "Where do I go? Don't lose me."

Deputy: "I promise I won't. No, we won't lose you. Don't worry."

https://twitter.com/TheKevinDalton/status/1884485309250900475 Thank goodness those deputies diligently searched the entire building and eventually helped the 100-year-old woman (who had been left behind) to safety. Sheriff Robert Luna of the LASD stated that deputies Nicholas Martinez and Quinn Alkonis should be hailed as heroes for their actions, and noted that their training adequately prepared them for the moment: "In the face of adversity, these deputies took immediate action. Their swift response under extreme pressure is a true reflection of their commitment. I commend them and all deputies who responded to the wildfires for their unwavering dedication and service to the community, working tirelessly to save lives amid such danger. Their courage and selflessness exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement, and they deserve our deepest respect and gratitude." Heroes INDEED.