Rescued Animals: The Victims Of Forest Fires
During the summer, fires and rescued animals, victims of these events, are frequently reported. Unfortunately, in August 2020, a huge fire broke out in California that resulted in the rescue of over 1000 animals. Despite the situation, this work of human empathy and altruism is a way to maintain hope.
Do you know the effects of fires on ecosystems and the species that live in them? Do you know the protocol to follow in the face of this disaster? Here we will answer these and many other questions.
Forest fires and rescued animals
In late August 2020, many wildfires were recorded in Northern California. These devastating events are synonymous with destruction, loss and desolation.
However, in some cases, animals or areas can be saved from fire, keeping the hope of a possible subsequent ecological succession. This is the case reported by the veterinary team at the University of California at Davis.
This team has treated more than 1000 animals rescued from the California fires. Most suffered minor injuries and were quickly released. However, about 30 animals needed additional care. For that reason, they will remain at the Veterinary Hospital associated with the University of California at Davis.
The fire occurred in the Relâmpago Complex. Due to this situation, it was estimated that around 1.25 million acres of land were burned. To get an idea of the size of the affected region, this area is larger than the Grand Canyon and caused hundreds of thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes.
How to deal with forest fires and rescued animals?
While it’s a situation you hope you’ll never have to deal with, you need to know how to react if it does occur. In this regard, there are certain guidelines that can be followed when facing a fire. We’ll talk more about them below.
Act calmly and responsibly
While the situation itself does not encourage calm, panic will only cause more problems. For this reason, it is necessary to think coldly when acting, especially if there are people or animals at risk. So the first thing to do is to reassure the most vulnerable. To avoid getting stressed, it’s appropriate to give a series of short, clear guidelines, such as:
- Move in the opposite direction of the smoke.
- Wet a handkerchief and place it in the mouth and nose, which prevents the inhalation of smoke.
- Call emergency teams and notify nearest neighbors.
- Be prepared and know how to act. Don’t wait to be evacuated.
- Move away from the fire area and try to move to a quiet place for the person or animal.
Naturally, if there are people in the area who are prepared for these situations, they must be obeyed. Both forestry and civil protection agents will guarantee your safety in the event of an emergency.
What to do with rescued animals?
In the event of a fire, only knowledgeable experts or volunteers should be involved in animal rescue. That’s because it’s a very stressful situation for them. If you don’t have the proper tools to handle them, it will only make the animal’s condition worse. However, some measures can be taken:
- Call the rescue team and indicate where the animals that fled the fire are.
- Be careful when driving the vehicle out of the danger area. It is common to run over animals that are fleeing the fire.
- Do not approach an injured animal or, in any case, follow the instructions of specialists.
- Leave water in containers where animals can reach it. They usually become dehydrated and disoriented from smoke inhalation.
Keeping an eye on other climate factors
Sometimes a fire can be accompanied by other meteorological factors that can help to eradicate it or, on the contrary, expand it. If the fire is on a hill, you should never climb it. The best option is to walk through the already burned areas, avoiding holes and ravines.
It is also best to head for natural barriers such as rivers or roads, which act as a fire break. Another important factor is the wind direction: you must go in the opposite direction.
Is it possible to stay at home?
In principle, if there are no eviction orders, houses can be safe havens. Inside the house, the first thing to do is close all doors, windows and blinds. Outside, a good tip is to use a hose to wet the roof and surroundings. Diesel , butane and natural gas supplies must also be disconnected.
Always be aware of the corresponding agencies if they order evictions. If so, the authorities will indicate the safest evacuation routes.
In summary, fires are relatively frequent phenomena and cause great damage. In these situations, fauna and flora are the main victims.
Although fires can occur for many reasons, they must be avoided as much as possible and in order to protect nature. Only through raising the awareness of the world’s population will news about rescued animals stop flooding the newspapers.
