When the Creek Fire exploded to life near Sylmar just before 4 a.m. Tuesday, a team of heroic animal rescuers from the Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita instantly took action.
Sponsored Articles
While thousands of area residents fled the rapidly growing brush fire, about 20 volunteers and staff from the Gentle Barn’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) program bravely headed directly into the disaster zone.
After bringing 15 vehicles towing horse trailers to the incident command center at Hansen Dam and setting up coordination with a second team at the Gentle Barn office, the group was dispatched to evacuate the most at-risk large animals around the Foothill area.
Related: Creek Fire Burning 12,000 Acres, 10 Percent Containment – #CreekFire
“We got phone calls from the incident commander saying, ‘There’s 10 horses over at this address — get over there quickly, the fire is about to take it,’” said Jay Weiner, founder of the EARS program and Gentle Barn co-founder. “We kind of rush in there and grab the animals.”
Having led emergency animal evacuation efforts in partnership with Co-Founder Ellie Laks since the nonprofit first came to Santa Clarita 14 years ago, Weiner noted he was used to the environment, but that certain moments were what he called “pretty touch and go.”
The most intense evacuation was when the team was called to save 10 horses from the 9600 block of Foothill Blvd around 1 p.m. that afternoon. Weiner recalled that the smoke was so thick, they were travelling blindly down the road in hopes of locating the animals in need.
“We couldn’t see anything, it was completely black,” he said. “Our trailer ended up getting burned at one point because we were that close.”
Related: Thomas Fire, Creek Fire: Next Steps For Fire Victims
Fortunately, six of the horses had escaped from a structure after it caught on fire and were running down Foothill Blvd as Weiner and his team approached.
“We called them back towards us and got them all into the trailer,” he said. “But as were actually pulling them, right next to us the tree caught on fire. It was just very touch and go.”
Instead of fearing for himself and his own life, Weiner said his fear was reserved for all the animals he knew were in imminent danger.
“We were very sad that there were animals in this fire that were not able to be saved,” he said. “For me, more than anything … I feel regret and fear for the animals.”
The EARS team worked diligently from about 4 a.m. until the late evening hours, and were able to save a total of 32 animals from the Creek Fire that day — 30 horses and two dogs — and bring them to safety at several nearby large animal evacuation centers.
Related Story: Creek Fire Cresting Over Angeles Forest Mountains, Approaching Little Tujunga Canyon Rd. – #CreekFire
“Knowing that we got them out and that they were in safety was definitely a great feeling,” Weiner said, adding that helping with animal evacuations can potentially save the lives of their owners as well.
“68 percent of people who don’t evacuate don’t evacuate because of their animals, so knowing that we played a part in that is great,” he continued. “I think that the lesson learned in this fire — and every fire — is to have a plan… (People) need to have access to a trailer and they need to have access to a support system. I think that’s the biggest message.”
See the full collection of KHTS Feature Stories and Videos on hometownstation.com here.
I’m furious that you have highlighted the actions of this sham “charity”!!! There were dozens, if not hundreds of people evacuating animals and donating feed and equipment using their OWN MONEY!!!! Not fraudulently gained tax payer donations (Gentle Barn) and then claiming the spotlight for a pat on the back and self serving advertising!!!!!
Way to go, team Gentle Barn. Thank you for all your heroic efforts to rescue animals during this fire. You are heroes. Your courageous work means so much to so many that you helped. God bless you.
Michele Burgard, I was so sorry to read your very caustic post. Yes, everyone who helped deserves recognition, but anyone who is brave enough to help deserves a pat on the back.
Michele Burgard – show us the 32 horses and 2 dogs that YOU also saved from the fire. Then you get to complain about Gentle Barn.
Thank you Gentle Barn for moving my big horse out of harms way. He’s pictures in the trailer in article. Much appreciate!