Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

New wildfires bring more evacuated animals to fairgrounds

Goats being evacuated out of the path of the Glass Fire near St. Helena. Photo from the Los Angeles Times

A new series of wildfires erupting in Northern California in recent days has resulted in additional fairgrounds opening as animal shelters, evacuation centers, and fire camps.

Fairgrounds in Petaluma (Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds) and Gridley (Butte County Fairgrounds) are newly available to house animals evacuated out of the path of the Glass and North Complex fires – chickens, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, llamas, rabbits, sheep. ducks, quail and turkeys, so far. Additional animals are anticipated.

To facilitate evacuations, CDFA utilizes CARES, the California Animal Response Emergency System. Partners in this program are the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, local animal control agencies, and volunteer organizations on the ground providing urgent assistance to animals and the people who care for them. CDFA personnel act as coordinators for evacuation activities and are currently engaged in Butte County.

A total of 17 fairgrounds are now serving as community resource centers during wildfires throughout California, and they are presently housing more than 365 animals between them, also including a bull, dogs, cats and koi.

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