An intense video captured the moment a California man was reunited with his cat after firefighters rescued his beloved pet from a house fire.
Isaac Vaizman arrived home Thursday to find his home on Topham Street, just off Lyndley Avenue in Tarzana, engulfed in flames.
She pleaded with members of the Los Angeles Fire Department to save her 14-year-old cat named Cheetah, who was trapped inside.
After anxiously waiting by the fence, a firefighter heroically emerged from the burning structure and handed Cheetah to her owner, who cried tears of joy as she refreshed the panting cat with water.
“I tried to run inside and they stopped me. It’s like losing your daughter. Same thing. She’s my daughter,” Vaizman said. NBC Los Angeles.
Isaac Vaizman fell to his knees and chilled with his panting cat Cheetah after firefighters rescued her from her burning home.
Vaizman came home Thursday to find his home on Topham Street, just off Lyndley Avenue in Tarzana, engulfed in flames.
“After my divorce, my daughter asked me to keep Cheetah and I promised her I would. So I still have my cat, but not my children. The cat is alive and that’s the most important thing.”
Video of the fire showed flames shooting from the roof and crews battling the blaze as Vaizman screamed for help.
“My cat, my cat is in the room, please take my cat out,” she said.
Vaizman walked the perimeter of the 900-square-foot home he moved into in early July.
A member of the Los Angeles Fire Department heroically emerged from the burning structure and delivered Cheetah to her owner.
Vaizman said he adopted Cheetah with his daughter and promised to take care of the 14-year-old cat after divorcing his wife.
About five minutes later, the firefighter handed the man his pet, and he fell to his knees, hugging the panting animal.
After cooling Cheetah down with a bowl of water brought by a neighbor, Vaizman took the cat to an emergency veterinary center.
Cheetah appears to be doing well and will return for a check-up on Tuesday. Vaizman shared a video of the cat cleaning up the damage at his home on Instagram.
A friend of Vaizman created a GoFundMe In his tribute, he shared that the man had just moved into the house.
Vaizman (pictured) said losing his cat would have been like losing a child and all that matters now is that Cheetah is safe.
Vaizman shared a video of the cat cleaning up the damage at her home and will be taking her back to the vet on Tuesday.
“All he cared about was getting the firefighters to rescue the cat he and his daughter adopted together. He has lost everything but the cat,” the fundraiser said.
Cheetah connects Vaizman with his daughter, whom he promised he would take care of the cat after divorcing his wife.
A team of 38 firefighters extinguished the flames that engulfed a room and the attic in 19 minutes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and no injuries have been reported.