A San Diego freelance photographer searching for his missing cat instead found himself rushing around a house fire in Vista, helping rescue a family dog before first responders arrived.
Gilbert Gonzalez said he was flying his drone Friday morning looking for his cat, Thomas, when he spotted smoke rising in a neighborhood on Calera Street.
When Gonzalez arrived, he realized he had beaten first responders to the burning home.
“The smoke was really dark it was really thick it was hard to breath. “
Hearing noises inside, Gonzalez kicked in the front door and went in to check for anyone trapped.
“I got real low is anybody in here is anybody in here does anyone need help. “
“I just didn’t want somebody to be inside who didn’t. Who wasn’t able to get themselves up.”
A sheriff’s deputy soon arrived, and together they found the family’s pet pug outside the home.
“Got the Pug had the pug for a little bit a second later he darted off.”
The dog ran back into the burning house.
“I’m sure when he saw the open door it was home sweet home and took off back in the house,” Battalion Chief Brendan Halle said.
Firefighters arriving on scene rescued the dog and confirmed no people were inside.
Vista Fire and Rescue crews quickly extinguished the flames. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials do not suspect arson.
“Helping is always great that comes with the caveat of personal risk,” Halle said.
Gonzalez experienced that risk firsthand. After kicking in the front door of the smoke-filled home, he began having trouble breathing and became disoriented.
“As soon as that door opened smoke just hit me in the face. I took too much in. “
He was treated at the scene and later said he was feeling better, though he was disappointed he missed capturing some of the dramatic moments on camera.
Gonzalez also had a message for his missing cat.
“Thomas if you are out there come back come back home we miss you. “
Once the fire was out, firefighters found the remains of another dog inside the home that did not survive. The family was not home when the fire started.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.