Allyn Pierce’s Tundra was burned in the blaze in Paradise.
Toyota is to buy a new truck for a hero nurse whose Tundra was burnt while he was helping victims of the California wildfires.
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Large parts of the town of Paradise have been wiped out by the fire (John Locher/AP)
Pierce helped set up a triage in the hospital car park (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
Allyn Pierce said the customised truck, which he calls the Pandra, saved his life as helped others around his hometown of Paradise while the fires raged.
He wrote on Instagram: “This truck literally saved my life today. My little town of Paradise was literally burning down around me and @the_pandra got me to safety where I could help others…twice.”
Pierce manages the intensive care unit at Paradise’s Feather River Hospital and was integral in helping its evacuation during the blaze.
New York Times journalist Jack Nicas told his story via Twitter, writing: “Then he hopped in his truck with two colleagues and headed for safety.
Large parts of the town of Paradise have been wiped out by the fire (John Locher/AP)
“Like many residents in Paradise, they quickly hit gridlock.
“But unfortunately for them, they were stuck in the middle of the fire. Flames licked at the side of his truck, and as Allyn watched other cars catch fire, he thought his was next.”
He continued: “Allyn held his coat against the window – a futile guard from the intense heat – and put on Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes to calm himself. He recorded a goodbye message to his family: ‘Just in case this doesn’t work out, I want you to know I really tried to make it out’.
“Suddenly a bulldozer appeared & knocked a burning truck next to him out of the way. There was some room to maneuver. But instead of going forward toward safety, he turned around & drove back into the heart of Paradise.”
Pierce helped set up a triage in the hospital car park (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
Pierce, whose family lost their house to the fire, then helped as hospital staff set up a triage centre in the hospital car park.
Then, when the hospital caught fire, they moved everyone to the centre’s helipad instead.
Pierce’s part in the unfolding drama of the California fires has captured the imagination of people around the world, and a gofundme page set up to raise money for him and his family surpassed its 15,000 dollar (£11,500) target in two days.
On top of that, somebody at Toyota noticed too – and the company is now supplying Pierce with a brand new Tundra.
(Facebook)
A Toyota statement read: “Our hearts go out to the victims of the devastating California wildfires. We are extremely grateful to all of the emergency crews who are working tirelessly to extinguish the fires and helping people to safety.
“We are especially thankful to one hero in particular, Allyn Pierce, for risking his life and sacrificing his Toyota Tundra to drive people to safety.
“Toyota is so humbled by Mr Pierce’s selfless act that we’re pleased to offer him a brand new Tundra.”
Fires have devastated areas of California up and down the state.
At least 42 people have died, with that number expected to rise.
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is increasing its presence in Formula 1 after taking over the title sponsorship of the Haas team on Thursday.
It's another high-profile commitment to F1 by a major automaker as the General Motors-backed Cadillac team prepares to make its debut next year.
The team's new name in 2026 will be TGR Haas F1 Team. The TGR stands for Toyota Gazoo Racing, which is the racing division of the Toyota Motor Corporation.
Taking over the title sponsorship means Toyota is more involved in F1 than at any time since it pulled its team out after the 2009 season. Since then, its circuit racing efforts have largely focused on sportscar events, including five straight wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2018-22.
Haas and Toyota signed a technical partnership a year ago for research, engineering and driver development and the Haas car has carried some Toyota branding since. Toyota-linked Japanese drivers have taken part in tests using older Haas cars.
Haas continues to use Ferrari engines next year under a deal running through 2028, as it has done each year it's raced in F1. Haas has long worked closely with Ferrari and said last year Ferrari was consulted over the founding of its initial Toyota partnership.
Toyota ran its own team in F1 from 2002-09 but failed to win a race despite spending heavily. It eventually withdrew from the series while the parent company was under financial pressure.
“It's naturally a privilege to deepen our relationship with TGR through this new title partnership agreement,” Ayao Komatsu, team principal of Haas, said in a team statement, adding that the existing technical partnership has already “benefited us greatly.”
Akio Toyoda, the chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “Throughout our challenges in the 2025 season I witnessed young TGR drivers and engineers begin to believe in their own potential and set their sights on even greater dreams. Seeing this transformation moved me deeply. And today I can say this with confidence — Toyota has begun to move. Really move.”
Toyoda has said previously he had second thoughts about pulling Toyota out of F1. He said part of his regret was not giving young drivers a better chance to compete in F1.
The length of the sponsorship agreement wasn't immediately clear and the statement mentioned only 2026.
Haas has been in F1 since 2016 and is eighth in the constructors' standings this season, which included Oliver Bearman placing fourth in Mexico. That was Haas' best race result since 2018 even though he fell short of achieving the team's first podium finish.
The final race of 2025 is on Sunday in Abu Dhabi and three drivers are in contention for the world championship.
Lando Norris of McLaren leads by 12 points over Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Oscar Piastri of McLaren is 16 points behind. Norris and Piastri are trying for their first season titles, Verstappen is after his fifth straight.
AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth in Duesseldorf, Germany, contributed.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Haas driver Esteban Ocon of France steers his car during the second qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Haas driver Esteban Ocon of France in action during the sprint qualifying for the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix in Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, Pool)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain smiles during an interview before the start of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Winner Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, centre, second placed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, and third placed Williams driver Carlos Sainz of Spain celebrate on the podium after the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.(AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
FILE - Then Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Akio Toyoda delivers a speech on the stage at the Tokyo Auto Salon, an industry event similar to the world's auto shows on Jan. 13, 2023, in Chiba near Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
