KANARRAVILLE, Utah -
As the Mill Flat fire raged near the town of New Harmony, ranchers raced to get their livestock out of danger. "In situations like this, with wildland fire and other natural disasters, livestock's an issue to get evacuated out of the area," said Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower. A new group was prepared for the disaster and ready to help. The Iron County Area Livestock Rescue arranged for places to shelter the animals, while their owners dealt with more pressing matters. The wildfire destroyed three homes and eight other buildings and forced the evacuation of more than 200 people.
As residents were evacuted, volunteers were setting up to take in their animals. Cows and horses were loaded onto trailers. Dogs and cats were put in trucks and driven out of harm's way. "This is our first big disaster," said Julienne Meron, who created the group after the last major wildfire that swept through New Harmony. "There was a real need to have some help with the livestock," she said in a recent interview with Fox 13 News. "Let people know that their animals were just as important."
The Iron County Area Livestock Rescue is successful because of its volunteers and supporters, Meron said. In the event of an emergency, volunteers help retrieve the animals. During the Mill Flat fire, Meron was able to utilize the Iron County fairgrounds, rodeo grounds and local ranches to shelter the animals.
"Letting the public know that, 'You know what? You can take your animals back if you want to. But you don't need to. Relax, we've got it handled.' Everything's taken care of. Things are calming down now," she said. At a barn in Kanarraville, dogs and cats were kept in cages and horse stalls while their owners dealt with other problems. They had 24-hour care thanks to volunteers. A rancher nearby took in some of the horses. Altogether, Meron told Fox 13 News her group took in dogs, cats, goats, cows, horses and even llamas.
Local stores donated hay and feed for the animals. The Kanab-based Best Friends Animal Society rushed in pet carriers to help, Meron said, giving peace of mind to people who might have to make a horrible choice between personal property and animals. The group is affiliated with the non-profit Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition, Meron said, and always welcomes donations.
The Iron County Area Livestock Rescue has been called out on other problems besides disasters, Meron said. Recently, the Iron County Sheriff had them collect an animal involved in a rollover accident on I-15. Meron hopes to expand the group's efforts to educate ranchers and animal owners to prepare for a disaster by thinking about what they'll do about their animals now, rather than when they're panicked. Coaxing a frightened horse into a trailer led to one man injuring himself in the Mill Flat fire, she said. Gower said other rural counties should consider such a group, given how critical livestock is to people's livelihood.
"It's people's, that's how they live here," Gower said. "That's how they make a living and put a roof over their head. It's very important to them."
FOX 13's Ben Winslow reports.
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As residents were evacuted, volunteers were setting up to take in their animals. Cows and horses were loaded onto trailers. Dogs and cats were put in trucks and driven out of harm's way. "This is our first big disaster," said Julienne Meron, who created the group after the last major wildfire that swept through New Harmony. "There was a real need to have some help with the livestock," she said in a recent interview with Fox 13 News. "Let people know that their animals were just as important."
The Iron County Area Livestock Rescue is successful because of its volunteers and supporters, Meron said. In the event of an emergency, volunteers help retrieve the animals. During the Mill Flat fire, Meron was able to utilize the Iron County fairgrounds, rodeo grounds and local ranches to shelter the animals.
"Letting the public know that, 'You know what? You can take your animals back if you want to. But you don't need to. Relax, we've got it handled.' Everything's taken care of. Things are calming down now," she said. At a barn in Kanarraville, dogs and cats were kept in cages and horse stalls while their owners dealt with other problems. They had 24-hour care thanks to volunteers. A rancher nearby took in some of the horses. Altogether, Meron told Fox 13 News her group took in dogs, cats, goats, cows, horses and even llamas.
Local stores donated hay and feed for the animals. The Kanab-based Best Friends Animal Society rushed in pet carriers to help, Meron said, giving peace of mind to people who might have to make a horrible choice between personal property and animals. The group is affiliated with the non-profit Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition, Meron said, and always welcomes donations.
The Iron County Area Livestock Rescue has been called out on other problems besides disasters, Meron said. Recently, the Iron County Sheriff had them collect an animal involved in a rollover accident on I-15. Meron hopes to expand the group's efforts to educate ranchers and animal owners to prepare for a disaster by thinking about what they'll do about their animals now, rather than when they're panicked. Coaxing a frightened horse into a trailer led to one man injuring himself in the Mill Flat fire, she said. Gower said other rural counties should consider such a group, given how critical livestock is to people's livelihood.
"It's people's, that's how they live here," Gower said. "That's how they make a living and put a roof over their head. It's very important to them."
FOX 13's Ben Winslow reports.
SEND US YOUR NEWS AND WEATHER PICTURES! Click Here to Visit Our Photo/Video Submission Page
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
