Newsdate: Thu 29 September 2016 – 5:45 pm
Location: WATSONVILLE. California

At last report the fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains had grown to 2,865 acres and was 22 percent contained by Wednesday evening, according to Cal Fire. Fueled by drought-stressed brush, the fires has destroyed seven structures and prompted residents to flee their homes in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Jose.

Evacuating horses safely

The wild fire blazing near Santa Cruz, California, serves as a reminder that September is National Preparedness Month, so it is a good time for horse owners to make sure their horses are included in their disaster plans to make sure horses remain calm and safe.
© 2016 by BarbaraSheridan

Flames from the fire have consumed a home and six outbuildings and damaged at least one other house since it started Monday afternoon approximately 10 miles northwest of Morgan Hill, California. As the fire's movement slowed and its containment increased, fire fighters and local citizens faced many challenges. This area is recognized as a popular location for horses, cattle and other animals, making evacuations more difficult for everyone involved.

Horses and other equines and animals require special care when fires are rapidly moving into the vicinity of barns, stables and pastures.

According to animal control officer George DeLeón, “The last three fires, we’ve taken everything from chickens and ducks to fish, turtles, snakes, birds of all kinds. We have officers out there evacuating homes, but we also have people that bring their animals here.”

DeLeón said that since the 2009 Lockheed Fire in the Bonny Doon area, the agencies have taken on a public education role to better prepare animal owners for fires and other disasters.

At Soquel High School, the multipurpose room outfitted Monday night by American Red Cross Central Coast as the county’s emergency evacuation center, would have handily hosted 100 cots. Just one visitor took advantage of the county’s evacuation center into Tuesday morning, volunteers said.

Later, because of the many horses being evacuated, the evacuation center was relocated to the Grange building at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, closest to the fair’s horse entrance.

Many Santa Cruz County residents were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday as cooler temperatures gave fire crews a much-needed boost in battling the Loma Fire.

This wild fire blazing near Santa Cruz, California, serves as a reminder that September is National Preparedness Month, so it is a good time for horse owners to make sure their horses are included in their disaster plans to make sure horses remain calm and safe

Unfortunately, some people faced with approaching wild fires think it's best to simply turn their horses loose thinking they will be able to either outrun the fire of find a place of safety on their own.

Fire officials, veterinarians, and safety experts warn against turning animals loose because of the danger involved, not only to the horses, but also to fire fighters and other people who might attempt to rescue stray horses.

Every horse owner should be prepared for any disasters that might occur in their area. Experts agree that diaster planning is essential and offer the following tips:

Planning for a disaster

• Permanently identify each horse by tattoo, microchip, brand, or photograph. In your records, include the horse’s age, sex, breed, and color. Keep this information with your important papers.
• Keep halters ready for your horses. On each halter attach a luggage tag with the following information: the horse's name, your name, email address, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached. At the time of evacuation, consider additional temporary identification such as a leg band.
• Place your horses' Coggins tests, veterinary papers, identification photographs, and vital information—such as medical history, allergies, and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)—in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other important papers in a safe place that will be easy for you to access, so you can take them with you when you and your horses evacuate.
• Prepare a basic first aid kit that is portable and easily accessible.
• Be sure to include enough water (12 to 20 gallons per day per horse), hay, feed, and medications for several days for each horse.
• Make arrangements in advance to have your horse trailered in case of an emergency. If you don’t have your own trailer or don’t have enough room in your trailer for all of your horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses.

Evacuation

• It is important that your horses are comfortable being loaded onto a trailer. If your horses are unaccustomed to being loaded onto a trailer, practice the procedure today so they become used to it if or when an emergency strikes.
• Know where you can take your horses in an emergency evacuation. When possible, make arrangements with a friend or another horse owner to stable your horses well beyond the region at risk.
• Contact your local animal care and control agency, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management authorities for information about shelters in your area.

If you cannot evacuate with your horse

• Have a back-up plan in case it’s impossible to take your horse with you when you evacuate. Consider different types of disasters and whether your horses would be better off in a barn or loose in a field. Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community's disaster response plans.
• Share your evacuation plans with friends and neighbors. Post detailed instructions in several places—including the barn office or tack room, the horse trailer, and barn entrances—to ensure emergency workers can see them in case you are not able to evacuate your horses yourself.

Additional planning is required when moving the following:  exceptionally young, exceptionally old or mobility-impaired equines, stallions, especially high strung horses, or a large number of horses.  Being located far from a main road is an added complication to factor into your plan.