The Butte Fire - Bringing people together for a common cause
The range and devastation of the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras Counties is now a matter of record. Most of us who live here can cite direct experiences with this horrendous event. Of the hundreds of Firefighters, Law Enforcement Personnel and Volunteers who devoted their time, hard work and expertise to the community during this struggle, enough cannot be said. In rural counties, especially those with rugged terrain such as ours, the “Animal Community” must be especially well-prepared when disaster strikes. Ranch animals both large and small, as well as pets, need to be evacuated quickly to safe haven as nearby as possible.
Our Paws Partner, ACART (Amador County Animal Rescue Team), wasted no time getting the effort underway by setting up an animal evacuation center at the Amador County Fairgrounds, along with other agencies including Amador County Animal Control and A-PAL Humane Society. Several area veterinarians made themselves available round-the-clock to help oversee the care and treatment of animals who needed it. ACART reports that, unfortunately, we lost one--a dog named Bailey--to severe heat stroke. So sad, but offset just a little, as nature will have it, by the birth of three “fire babies”, all goats, all doing fine.
Over the course of 11 days, a total of 448 animals were successfully rescued, cared for, and returned to their owners. The animal inventory included horses, cattle, goats (including the 3 kids already mentioned), chickens, dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, tortoises and turtles both large and small, guinea pigs, a very fine parrot…and a rat.
Housed alongside the evacuated animals at the fairgrounds was an orderly Cal Fire camp, where firefighters could sleep after an exhausting shift on the lines. Tales are being told of off-duty firemen stopping by the animal areas to de-stress, some just holding the smaller dogs in their laps for a little human-canine quiet time.
We can be proud of the local agencies and volunteer organizations that devoted their resources to provide safe transport, shelter and care for all these evacuated animals. Thank you. To the local businesses and animal groups from neighboring counties, thank you for your invaluable help. To the individuals too numerous to mention by name here, thank you. You know who you are. Thanks also to the inspiring generosity of the people in this community, who gave blankets, food and time without reservation.
Working together, we proved that it could be done.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Meade
Our Paws Partner, ACART (Amador County Animal Rescue Team), wasted no time getting the effort underway by setting up an animal evacuation center at the Amador County Fairgrounds, along with other agencies including Amador County Animal Control and A-PAL Humane Society. Several area veterinarians made themselves available round-the-clock to help oversee the care and treatment of animals who needed it. ACART reports that, unfortunately, we lost one--a dog named Bailey--to severe heat stroke. So sad, but offset just a little, as nature will have it, by the birth of three “fire babies”, all goats, all doing fine.
Over the course of 11 days, a total of 448 animals were successfully rescued, cared for, and returned to their owners. The animal inventory included horses, cattle, goats (including the 3 kids already mentioned), chickens, dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, tortoises and turtles both large and small, guinea pigs, a very fine parrot…and a rat.
Housed alongside the evacuated animals at the fairgrounds was an orderly Cal Fire camp, where firefighters could sleep after an exhausting shift on the lines. Tales are being told of off-duty firemen stopping by the animal areas to de-stress, some just holding the smaller dogs in their laps for a little human-canine quiet time.
We can be proud of the local agencies and volunteer organizations that devoted their resources to provide safe transport, shelter and care for all these evacuated animals. Thank you. To the local businesses and animal groups from neighboring counties, thank you for your invaluable help. To the individuals too numerous to mention by name here, thank you. You know who you are. Thanks also to the inspiring generosity of the people in this community, who gave blankets, food and time without reservation.
Working together, we proved that it could be done.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Meade
