Thousands Evacuated as Fire Rages North of Sacramento
Northern California’s Park Fire, which erupted on July 24, has led to the evacuation of thousands. The fire, which ignited when a man pushed a burning car into a gully, quickly became one of the largest wildfires in state history. In the chaos, an emergency responder performed a heroic act to save stranded animals.
As the fire spread rapidly, one resident’s truck broke down during their frantic evacuation from a remote area above Cohasset. Forced to abandon the vehicle, they had to leave behind their two adult Rottweilers and a litter of puppies. Despite providing the truck’s location to responders, the advancing fire had already blocked access.
A hero’s mission
Four days later, on Sunday, search and rescue official Trevor Skaggs undertook a mission to save the stranded animals. Flown to the area by helicopter, Skaggs ran 1.5 miles to the truck’s location, where he found the puppies and their mother alive but exhausted and thirsty. Tragically, the puppies’ father did not survive.
“After arriving, Trevor ran 1.5 miles to the location and found the puppies and mother alive, but tired and very thirsty,” the Butte County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook. “Unfortunately, the puppies’ father was found to have not survived.”
Skaggs provided the surviving dogs with water and protein bar bites before leading them on the 1.5-mile trek back to the helicopter.
Safe haven and care
“The puppies and their mother were then flown to the Chico Airport and are now being cared for by members of the North Valley Animal Disaster Group,” the sheriff’s office continued. “It’s been a horrific few days for our community and we are grateful to be able to share this amazing story.”
The North Valley Animal Disaster Group, which had assumed the dogs were lost due to the fire cutting off ground contact, praised Skaggs’ dedication.
“Trevor hiked to the truck, released the happy canines, and played pied piper on the way back to the helicopter for the trip to medical care and the emergency animal shelter,” the group shared on Facebook.
Sheltering the displaced
The group has taken in 61 large animals, including cows and horses, and 84 pets to its small animal shelter, providing much-needed care amid the ongoing crisis.
This remarkable rescue highlights the bravery and commitment of emergency responders in the face of devastating wildfires, offering a glimmer of hope during a challenging time for the community.