Exclusive: Palm Springs man thanks firefighter after cat rescued from burning condo complex

A Palm Springs man is thanking firefighters after his four-legged friend was rescued from a burning condo complex Memorial Day weekend.

Cleanup at the Palm Springs Villas 1 community was still underway more than a week after a dozen units went up in flames on May 29.

Andrew Henderson said he thought it was a scene from a nightmare. "I woke up to pure darkness, smoke everywhere, fire coming from my toilet and around me in the living room area," he said.

Henderson is raising money on GoFundMe: if you'd like to help, click here.

As he lost everything he owned inside, Henderson said he quickly ran from the smoky scene, but soon realized he'd forgotten something crucial.

"I realized, 'Oh shoot, my cat was still in there,'" he said. "I ran back in twice, trying to save him. I couldn't breathe at all, so I went back outside again."

Henderson adopted his cat, Flash, 10 years ago. When Palm Springs firefighter Freddy Paz learned Flash was still inside the burning condo, he said he knew there was another life to protect.

"We had found what was a cat on a bed. He must have been hiding, but he was there safe and sound, unharmed, uninjured," Paz said. "That's a great name for that guy. He was Flash. He was fast, he was able to get out of the danger and to a safe place until we were able to find him."

Flash was trapped inside for over an hour before being rescued, Henderson said. The cat spent the last week or so in a veterinarian ICU due to smoke inhalation.

News Channel 3 learned Henderson was searching for the firefighter who saved his furry companion's life – and so Monday, we reunited them.

"You guys just seeing each other again, you guys's connection and everything, it's good to see a smile on your face," Paz said on a video call with Henderson.

"I can't fathom how things would have been without him being in my life right now," Henderson said. "Especially going through that traumatic experience. And it was such a blessing. And you're my hero, man, you really are."

As he now picks up the pieces after the devastating fire, Henderson said he's finding comfort that at least he doesn't have to do it alone. "Just given time, I'll get back on my feet," he said. "Everything's gonna be okay."

Palm Springs fire officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.