Los Angeles Police Department officers, Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters, and local volunteers have been working feverishly to save animals at risk from ongoing fires in the region.
Authorities reported Thursday that they had made some progress in containing the fires, which include the Skirball fire in west Los Angeles near the 405 Freeway, and the Creek fire near Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley.
Great progress made by fire crews last night on the #SkirballFire -but we’re not out of the woods yet. Continue to remain vigilant, and heed any evacuation orders if necessary. #BEREADYpic.twitter.com/ceNOo3AvwR
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) December 7, 2017
But the latter fire killed several dozen horses that were tied in their stalls and could not escape the smoke and flames.
SYLMAR, CA – DECEMBER 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Image depicts death.) A dead horse is seen in a stall at Rancho Padilla where 29 horses and numerous other animals were killed in the Creek Fire on December 6, 2017 near Sylmar, California. Strong Santa Ana winds are pushing multiple wildfires across the region, expanding across tens of thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of homes and structures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
In response to the danger, residents took to social media to ask for, or offer, help in evacuating pets and domestic animals, and to urge each other not to abandon their animals.
100 horses need immediate evacuation assistance/trailers in West LA due to the #SkirballFire. Please pass along or reach out if u can help, phone listed below #LA#fires#horses#westla#nbcLA@nbc@NBCLApic.twitter.com/fqCgPoe7Rk
— ALT+CTRL+K (@ALTCTRLK) December 6, 2017
Animals MUST stay with their guardians during wildfires & evacuations; they will die if abandoned.
Please RT or share these lifesaving tips: https://t.co/0j7U5OPC87#SkirballFirepic.twitter.com/ul7KskflqN
— Heather Carlson (@Hezzah) December 6, 2017
A viral post urged residents to make water available outside their homes for wild animals fleeing their habitat.
If you are near the #Califonia#Wildfires
please put out buckets of water for the animals that are exhausted, scared, & running from their homes that have caught on fire#LA#LosAngeles#Malibu#skirballfirepic.twitter.com/aQbLV6ura3
— Aiden James (@aidenjamestour) December 7, 2017
If you live near the fires, WILD animals will be fleeing and may show up in your yards. Bring your domestic animals in and let wild ones pass through. Put out buckets of water for them if possible.
Please share.#CaliforniaWildfires. #RyeFire#ThomasFire#CreekFire#SkirballFire
— Jakub Hlávka (@JakubHlavka) December 7, 2017
In Ventura County, a woman’s body was found in the wake of a fire in Ojai, marking the first confirmed fatality in the Thomas fire, which has burned across nearly 100,000 acres, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He was named one of the “most influential” people in news media in 2016. He is the co-author of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
