Page 2 - Gary Donilon News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Welcome back to extraordinary people. you may remember back in june of 2013, 19 hot shot firefighters were killed near prescott, arizona. a horrific tragedy, trying to control a rapidly expanding forest fire. helicopter pilot gary donilon was very much aware of the losses as he hustled in september of 2014 to help 12 men trapped by a wildfire in placerville, california. >> only, gary, because he was flying high above the fire could see the way out. this rescue would require good flying skills, his reassuring voice from the guy that someone later regarded as their guardian angel. >> the el dora...

>> i said to him, i said you guys are the luckiest sons of bitches on the planet. >> back on the base, the team could contact loved ones. he dialled his wife christina. >> it was scary. he didn't want to die like that. and that he just wanted to tell page's daughter he loved us. >> gary's bravery that day in september of 2014 didn't impact just the 12 people caught in the king fire. so we have a little surprise for you and that is that we have a letter that the wife of one of the people in the crew that you saved, her name, mrs. veera. >> not just myself but on behalf angel, grandchildren and ...

Right over here and then we heard the helicopter. >> i saw the fire shelters below me and looked out this way and i just saw the wall of fire coming. >> you could tell that if they stayed in those fire shelters -- >> i knew if they stayed there, they were going to die. >> from his bird's eye view, gary could also see a possible escape route. he radioed to kevin what was a risky recommendation. >> i estimated they had about three minutes to run about 200 yards. i told them, you need to get out of your fire shelters and you need to follow me. you need to run fast. >> we started running down the ...