When a couple from Los Angeles left their home for separate trips out of state, they could not have foreseen the wildfires that would break out in their neighborhood, leaving their three dogs in danger. Thanks to the selfless actions of two CBS employees, a heartwarming rescue unfolded amidst the chaos.
On January 7, 2025, as the Palisades fires raged through Los Angeles, Andrea and Sixuan Pasinetti were away. Andrea was in San Francisco for work, while Sixuan was overseas. They had entrusted their three dogs—Alma, Archie, and Hugo—to a dogsitter, but the sitter was unable to reach their home due to road closures. The flames rapidly approached the couple’s neighborhood on Lachman Lane, putting the pets in grave danger.
Desperate to save his beloved dogs, Andrea immediately booked a flight back to Los Angeles. “The flight into [Los Angeles] was definitely very, very hard because we just didn’t have any information,” Andrea shared in an emotional interview with CBS News. A friend met him at the airport with blankets and fire-retardant materials, ready for a daring rescue mission. However, as they neared the house, law enforcement roadblocks thwarted their progress. “It’s this feeling of helplessness and devastation,” Andrea recalled. “Wanting to maintain hope, but also kind of bracing for the worst.”
While Andrea planned his next steps, Sixuan watched the unfolding fire coverage on TV. She noticed CBS News reporter Jonathan Vigliotti reporting near Palisades Charter High School, close to their home. The couple decided to reach out, initially tweeting at the reporter before contacting his colleague, CBS News producer Christian Duran. The message reached Jonathan, and he and Christian quickly decided to help.
When the CBS duo arrived at the Pasinetti home, the situation was critical. The property was surrounded by flames, and they had no key to enter. With Andrea’s permission, they prepared to break windows if necessary. The three dogs, all rescues with pre-existing anxiety, posed an additional challenge. Alma was near the entrance, but Hugo had hidden under a bed.
Jonathan and Christian managed to secure Alma by throwing a blanket over her to calm her. Then, they turned their attention to Archie and Hugo. Lifting the bed in the primary bedroom, they managed to extract Hugo. Andrea later learned that the house burned down just hours after the rescue.
“I have never felt that mixture of joy, relief, exhaustion, despair, and gratitude,” Andrea reflected. “The generosity and risk they took to save the dogs—it’s the best that humanity has to offer.” He expressed heartfelt gratitude not only to Jonathan and Christian but also to firefighters and first responders who worked tirelessly to protect lives and homes during the crisis.
Andrea shared a touching photo with his dogs, thanking the CBS team for their heroic efforts to “keep our family whole.” Jonathan later shared his perspective, saying, “We almost didn’t go. We wrongly thought the home and the dogs would be fine.”
The Palisades fires left a trail of devastation. According to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, there were 177 wildfires in the area, burning over 40,000 acres, destroying thousands of structures, and claiming 24 lives.
Amid this tragedy, the Pasinetti dogs’ rescue shines as a beacon of hope and humanity’s capacity for courage and kindness.
