PARADISE, Calif. (KGTV) - Dramatic body camera video recorded on the first day of Northern California's Camp Fire shows a Butte County Sheriff's deputy in what he thought would be the final moments of his life.
BCSO Deputy Aaron Parmley was driving down Pentz Road in Paradise when his vehicle became disabled due to the firestorm. Parmley got out to run to safety.
Fearing that he was about to die, Parmley switched on his body camera to document the situation the morning of Nov. 8.
Video shows Parmley walking near a home and down the middle of a road with burning embers surrounding him. Other people, including a nurse and police officer, were walking nearby. Parmley's struggle to breathe in the heavy smoke is apparent.
The life-saving moment happened roughly an hour and 14 minutes after Parmley turned on his camera. A bulldozer approached Parmley and the police officer, and both men got inside to be taken to safety.
The Camp Fire went on to become the deadliest fire in California history, with 88 fatalities and 196 people missing as of Nov. 29.
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