Driving down highway 1 in Cochinta, 19 year old Oscar Gonzalez is named a ‘hero’  after glancing over to see a white bunny hopping  down next to the engulfing Thomas fire. On Wednesday Gonzales stops his car as  the flames grow to race over and save the rabbit.

Gonzales works for a commercial refrigerator installer living in Pacoima with his fiance and their
five month old daughter. They have not been affected by the fire, and have not been told to evacuate from their home.

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” I have animals myself I didn’t want the poor rabbit to get hurt” Gonzales states. ‘I knew it was dangerous but I couldn’t leave them to burn!’ he told DailyMail.com on Friday. ‘The flames were so close ,’ He could feel the terrifying burning on his face. The rabbit hesitated but soon hopped straight  into his arms he said. He walked, followed by the rest  of the rabbits family, across the street free of flame.

Wildlife experts would argue Gonzales actions were ‘stupid’, and may have separated the rabbit from the rest of the family. They said ‘Gonzalez put himself and others at great risk by walking towards the fire and that the rabbit, as a wild animal, they k© NBC

new instinctively how to survive without him interfering’.

Junior, Carlye Mota, states her position. ” I believe his actions were risky and unethical, but his  love for animals and  lack of knowledge they knew  what to do in that situation took over him and I would still call him a ‘hero’ for that.

Experts have warned residents to not get in the way of any wild animals spotted based on the rime of the year the fire broke out is matting season. ‘ Fire or no fire, just let animals be. Fire is something animals have to deal with constantly.’ California fish and spokesperson Peter Tira told San Francisco gate.

Despite the slams on social media Oscar Gonzales is getting, he believes he did the right thing and saved ALL of the bunnies at the scene calling himself a ‘hero’ in the end.