An actor has been driving into the fire zones in LA and risking his life to rescue pets and people left behind.

When William McNamara, 59, who lives in Santa Monica, California, saw a plume of smoke rising above the city, he took to the streets.

Known for his roles in NYPD Blue, Law & Order: SVU, he also has a history of performing high-stakes rescue on National Geographic's Animal Intervention show.

He has spent the last few days driving his rental car around Pacific Palisades, to save people and pets - even venturing behind police and fire lines.

His shocking videos show him staggeringly close to the flames as he pulls them to safety and into his rental car.

McNamara found himself parked at an RV park on Pacific Coast Highway, surrounded by flames and heat.

Forced to retreat, he waited in a nearby parking lot. There, he encountered an RV park resident stumbling out of the smoke, his eyes swollen shut from exposure.

McNamara didn't hesitate. He loaded the man and his belongings into his car and drove him to safety.

"It scared the hell out of me," McNamara admitted. "I was by myself, and out of the smoke comes this figure with huge bags. But when he asked for help, I knew I couldn't say no."

After ensuring the man's safety, McNamara received a tip about a horse left behind near the RV park.

Determined to save it, he returned to the fire zone, breaching police barriers to get closer.

"It's not something I recommend," he said. "But I knew the officer couldn't leave his post, and I couldn't leave that horse."

The heat, wind, and embers became unbearable. McNamara crouched behind a small wall for cover, battling smoke and debris until a group of police officers spotted him.

"I was afraid to move," he said. "It felt like I was in a scene from The Wizard of Oz with palm fronds flying through the air like missiles."

Ultimately, McNamara's persistence paid off.

Though his efforts came with personal risk and his rental car was severely damaged, he successfully saved lives and brought attention to the plight of both residents and animals during the fire.

"I've been through fires before, but this one was different," he said. "The winds hadn't even started, which makes me think this was arson. "

"But seeing the resilience of the animals and the bravery of the firefighters keeps me going."

"When I walked home, that's where all those other videos came from. I walked through the Pacific Palisades Village, which was completely gone. "

"All the homes had completely gone. It was nothing I've ever seen. You couldn't do this in a movie."

His rescue efforts began when he saw a huge plume of smoke "like an atomic bomb", as the fires erupted."

He took to his car, driving north toward Pacific Palisades, and encountered an eerie scene - smoke filled the skies, and the usually bustling neighborhoods were ghost towns.

As he neared the affected area, spot fires sparked near homes.

Despite the presence of firefighters, McNamara took it upon himself to alert them about smaller blazes, some of which, he noted, were ignored and later grew into house-consuming infernos.

"I'm not trying to criticize anyone," McNamara clarified. "These firefighters are the real heroes. But I've learned to act fast when I see something that could escalate."

That's when, equipped with nothing but his rental car, he began his search for animals left behind in the evacuation chaos.

His vehicle, stocked with rescue gear like leashes, goggles, and even an ax, was unavailable due to repairs.

"I knew I had to do something, even if I wasn't as prepared as I wanted to be," he said."

McNamara, has a history of performing high-stakes rescues, including stepping into cages with grizzly bears during his National Geographic show.

"People think it's dangerous running into a fire for a horse or a dog," McNamara said. "But stepping into a cage with two grizzlies? That's next level."