An unusual rescue involving dozens of koi fish during October’s wildfires led to a joyful reunion in time for the holidays.

“I just assumed that they were gone, feared the worst,” said Clyde Lorentzen of Santa Rosa.

Clyde and his wife, Linda, lost everything during the fires — or so they thought.

“I heard about her going through the neighborhood and I said, ‘Kelly is there any way you can get down there and look at my pond and see if the fish are still alive?’” said Clyde.