The Park Fire in Northern California has prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents. During the chaotic escape, a resident’s truck broke down, leaving behind the vehicle, two Rottweilers, and their litter of puppies. In response, emergency responder Trevor Skaggs took action to rescue them.
The fire, which began on July 24 when a man pushed a burning car into a gully, rapidly escalated into one of the largest wildfires in the state’s history. The blaze forced thousands to evacuate from areas north of Sacramento.
In the midst of the frantic evacuations, the truck belonging to the resident became disabled while attempting to leave a remote location above Cohasset. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office reported that the resident had to abandon the truck, along with the dogs. Though the location of the truck was provided to responders, the advancing fire made it inaccessible.
On Sunday, four days after the initial evacuation, search and rescue official Trevor Skaggs was flown by helicopter to the area. Upon arrival, Skaggs ran 1.5 miles to reach the stranded animals. He discovered the mother and her puppies alive, though they were exhausted and extremely thirsty. Unfortunately, the puppies’ father did not survive. Skaggs provided the survivors with water and food, and led them on foot back to the helicopter.
The mother and her puppies were then flown to Chico Airport and are now receiving care from the North Valley Animal Disaster Group. The group expressed their gratitude for the successful rescue amidst the devastation.
The North Valley Animal Disaster Group also reported taking in 61 large animals, including cows and horses, as well as 84 small pets into their shelters. Despite the severe conditions, the rescue efforts continued to bring hope and relief to the affected animals.
