William McNamara, 59, who lives in Santa Monica, California, sprang into action when he saw smoke billowing over the city and risked his own life to save others
A Hollywood actor has been risking his life to rescue pets and people trapped in the raging LA wildfires.
William McNamara, 59, who lives in Santa Monica, California, sprang into action when he saw smoke billowing over the city, using his rental car to navigate the danger zones and pluck those in peril to safety. The actor, known for his roles in NYPD Blue and Law & Order: SVU, has a background in high-stakes rescues, having appeared on National Geographic’s Animal Intervention show.
Over the past few days, he has been driving through the fire-ravaged streets of Pacific Palisades, venturing behind police and fire lines to save those in need. His heart-stopping videos show him getting perilously close to the inferno as he pulls people and pets to safety and into his car.
In one harrowing incident, McNamara found himself surrounded by flames at an RV park on Pacific Coast Highway and was forced to retreat. However, he soon encountered a resident stumbling out of the smoke, his eyes swollen shut from exposure. Without hesitation, McNamara loaded the man and his belongings into his car and drove him to safety.
“It scared the hell out of me,” McNamara confessed. “I was by myself, and out of the smoke comes this figure with huge bags. But when he asked for help, I knew I couldn’t say no.” After ensuring the man’s safety, McNamara received a tip about a horse left behind near the RV park and returned to the fire zone, breaching police barriers to rescue the animal.
“It’s not something I recommend,” he confessed. “But I knew the officer couldn’t abandon his post, and I couldn’t leave that horse.”
The heat, wind, and embers became unbearable. McNamara took cover behind a small wall, battling smoke and debris until a group of police officers spotted him. “I was afraid to move,” he admitted. “It felt like I was in a scene from The Wizard of Oz with palm fronds flying through the air like missiles.”
Ultimately, McNamara’s persistence paid off. Despite the personal risk and severe damage to his rental car, he successfully saved lives and highlighted the plight of both residents and animals during the fire. “I’ve been through fires before, but this one was different,” he reflected. “The winds hadn’t even started, which makes me think this was arson.
“But seeing the resilience of the animals and the bravery of the firefighters keeps me going. When I walked home, that’s where all those other videos came from. I walked through the Pacific Palisades Village, which was completely gone. All the homes had completely vanished. It was nothing I’ve ever seen. You couldn’t do this in a movie.”
His rescue efforts began when he saw a huge plume of smoke “like an atomic bomb”, as the fires erupted. He got in his car, driving north toward Pacific Palisades, and encountered an eerie scene – smoke filled the skies, and the usually bustling neighbourhoods were ghost towns. As he neared the affected area, spot fires sparked near homes.
Despite the efforts of firefighters, McNamara couldn’t just stand by. He jumped into action to point out burgeoning flames that had been overlooked, which later exploded into massive fires. “I’m not trying to criticize anyone,” McNamara stressed. “These firefighters are the real heroes. But I’ve learned to act fast when I see something that could escalate.”
With a drive to help, he set out in a rental to find pets abandoned amidst the chaos, even without his usual rescue rig that included leashes, goggles, and an axe and was out for repairs at the time.
“I knew I had to do something, even if I wasn’t as prepared as I wanted to be,” he admitted. Known for his daring feats, including close encounters with grizzly bears on screen for National Geographic, McNamara knows the meaning of risk. People think it’s dangerous running into a fire for a horse or a dog,” McNamara reflected. “But stepping into a cage with two grizzlies? That’s next level.”
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