More Wild Fires

I swear that it is not usually this dangerous here in sunny California. If you live here, you already know about the raging wildfires that swept through the Ventura area last week and throughout the weekend. If you don't live in California, it's been a bummer of a week.

The area immediately north of Los Angeles

Spurred by ferocious Santa Ana winds, wild fires roared throughout Ventura County. The area hit the hardest is characterized by low mountains and canyons. These are the kinds of conditions that make it frustratingly difficult for firefighters to reach. 

​Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, lives and trains in Moorpark, a community just a few miles southeast of the largest fire, the Thomas Fire. She spent several days evacuating horses from Ojai and nearby towns. Her barn, CastleRock Farms, brought in some evacuees even though they're on watch as flames still threaten to head their direction.

Even with volunteers arriving from all over southern California to help, many, many horses perished over the weekend. Besides homes, numerous barns and facilities were leveled.

Middle Ranch - photo from Ulf Wadeborn

My Facebook Newsfeed was filled with friends and acquaintances asking for help in evacuating their animals and family members. It was heartbreaking to read about their fear and loss.

I am sure we'll hear more about the devastation in the next week, but for now, please send good thoughts to Ventura County; they need it.