Three years ago, a Russian man seeking asylum in the United States received global praise for rescuing an American flag from a burning house during the California wildfires.
Sultan Ramazanov was driving through wildfires in Altadena with a friend on January 7 when he saw a house engulfed in flames.
He said he has never seen wildfires and is worried about the city he now calls home.
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“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Ramazanov told Fox Digital News. “I’ve heard about the fires in California in 2020, but now this is the first time I’ve heard about it [being near a wildfire]you know, it’s really scary. When I see how the Palisades Fire is burning through the mountains, I’m really scared for our city.
He spotted the symbolic red, white and blue flags near Hell and asked his friend to pull over.
“I told my friend, ‘At least let me keep this flag,'” Ramazanov said. “I tried to get it but it was a little difficult and it took a few minutes.”
On January 8, strong winds sparked devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, destroying vehicles and homes. (Reuters/David Swanson)
In the video, he can be seen reaching through thick black smoke and carefully removing the torn banner from the flagpole in front of his home.
One side of the flag was visibly charred, with a red stripe hanging down to the ground.
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Ramazanov left the burning house gloomily, the white stars on the flag delicately folded and tucked into his arms.
After the rescue, his friends told him that he had captured the heroic act on video, and Ramazanov decided to share it on Instagram in the hope of contacting the homeowners and returning what may be one of their last remaining possessions.
Sultan Ramazanov holds an American flag removed from a flagpole in front of a burning home in Altadena, California, during wildfires. (news report)
“I just posted it and someone shared it and said, ‘Look at this, a guy who looks like Jason Statham saved the American flag,’ and then it went crazy,” he said. “It got 10 million views and it really helped me find the family that had the flag. I’m so grateful to the person who shared the video.”
As of Wednesday evening, the post had more than 270,000 likes and nearly 30,000 shares on the platform.
Although Ramazanov received a number of scam calls claiming to be from the homeowner, he eventually contacted the homeowner, a 74-year-old man.
A destroyed store after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzero)
He told Ramazanov how grateful he was and said he had been worried about the flag.
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The two planned to meet over the weekend to return and learn each other’s stories.
“This is the flag of our country, so I decided to save it,” Ramazanov said. “America has given us a lot and I am very grateful to this country. I almost [have] My papers are here, I am sheltered here. Now, the American flag is also a symbol for me and my family.
