Toyota Gifts New Tundra TRD to Paradise Fire Survivor

Heroic nurse drives into ‘Camp Fire’ to rescue others, literally toasting his Tundra. Now he’s got a new ride.

Last month, the story of Allyn Pierce went viral due to both his story of bravery, and the picture of his damaged Tundra. During the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, Pierce relied on his Toyota Tundra TRD, named “The Pandra,” to help save lives and withstand the flames.

Pierce, a registered nurse, knew that people would need medical assistance. So, he got in on his sturdy truck to evacuate people from the flames and administer help. Once he got people to safety, Pierce went back into the fire several times to help more people escape. Afterwards, he took a picture of his charred truck, which he called the “toasted marshmallow.”

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Here's my @toyotausa commercial. 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. #campfire #perfectmarshmellow #meltedplastics #buttecountyfire #sema2019 thanks to the fire fighters, law enforcement and my fellow healthcare workers for the work we all did getting the hospital evacuated and our patients to safety. 🤘🏼😔
 
A post shared by  🐼 Allyn Pierce 🐼 (@the_pandra) on Nov 8, 2018 at 7:04pm PST
 

After Toyota heard about Pierce’s bravery, they gifted him with a brand new Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.

“Very quickly we came to the conclusion that we just needed to replace his truck,” Toyota spokesperson Nancy Hubbell told the Washington Post. “He was a hero, and we needed to do that.”

Surprisingly, The Pandra is still running! Toyota will be displaying the toasted truck in their showroom to show off the Tundra’s exceptional stamina and strength.

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.