"That's an incredible story!" - Internet reacts as 2017 video of Man saving rabbit from California Wildfires resurfaces online amid LA wildfires

Man saving the rabbit (Image via YouTube/ BBC News)
Man saving the rabbit (Image via YouTube/ BBC News)

A video taken in 2017 showing a man rescuing a rabbit from wildfires in California has resurfaced online following recent wildfire events in Los Angeles. The video was first captured near La Conchita, California, during the Thomas Fire.

The original video shared by BBC News on December 7, 2017, shows a dramatic moment when a driver briefly stopped on the 101 Freeway to save a wild rabbit that was stuck in the fire.

The man, after a brief chase, can be seen grabbing the rabbit quickly and putting it safely in his car, an act of compassion amid the devastating disaster.

The video had gone viral at the time, garnering huge media attention and public sympathy. This time, amidst devastating fires in California, the video is making rounds on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Reacting to the video, a user commented:

“That's an incredible story! It shows the power of compassion even in tough times. Nature can be brutal, but humanity shines through.”

More social media users chimed in on the same. One said,

"Love to see it! Help who you can if you can. Every time we see signs that humanity is lost we see examples to let the people know that humanity is all around you if you're looking for it."
Another user commented: “Love to see it! Help who you can if you can. Every time we see signs that humanity is lost we see examples to let the people know that humanity is all around you if you're looking for it.”

Another opined,

"There's unsung heroes just going around & doing good for others every day w/o thanks or payment. It's too bad that we can't see every act for ourselves how they make our world a better place. The best we can do is use their example & pay it forward."
"This has touched me more than anything else I’ve seen. Thank you for caring xxx" commented another.

Another user on X expressed,

"Kind person, with a big heart and great sensitivity 🙏❤️"
"Makes me tear up every time that I'm seeing it 🥺😞" said another user.
"This guy is my hero ♥️ What a sweetheart !" Commneted another user.

As wildfires flared up again in California in January 2025, social media platforms were filled with videos and images of these events. However, most of the posts contain footage from previous incidents, including the rabbit rescue video from 2017. It has confused the viewers regarding whether the videos are old or new.

It has been revealed that fact-checking efforts found most of the videos that appear to show recent events online were referencing previous incidents. Videos showing rescues of pets during recent wildfires have, for example, been attributed to ongoing fires and have thus led to the rapid spreading of misinformation.


About the 2025 California wildfires

As of January 10, 2025, California faces a series of raging wildfires that have severely affected Los Angeles County. The raging fires have been mainly promoted by powerful Santa Ana winds, leading to severe destruction and loss of lives, and massive evacuations.

The wildfires started on January 7, 2025, and the two largest fires were the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. The Palisades Fire burned over 19,978 acres, and only 6% had been contained as of Thursday. A CNN report states that so far, at least 10 people have died, although authorities maintain that the actual toll could be higher.

According to NPR's report, nearly 180,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as a result of the fires.

Over 10,000 buildings, homes, schools, and businesses have been destroyed.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni