Locals help evacuate animals from Central Coast wildfires
SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION) As Central coast wildfires continue to rage, people and animals are being forced to flee their homes. But a group of locals is sending help.
Collette Skinner and AJ Martorella Jr. are driving into evacuation zones to help get animals to safety.
“I worry more about the animals, because they’re helpless and we just want to get up there and help them. That’s basically what my whole drive is for,” said Skinner, a Prunedale resident.
She and Martorella have driven into neighborhoods as the Carmel and River fires rage.
“We’ve helped emus, llamas, alpacas, horses, cows, goats, sheep," Skinner said. "I mean, we have seen a variety of all kinds of exotics.”
The couple estimates their group has helped roughly 1,000 animals. At times, they've risk their own safety to help those who can’t help themselves.
“Me and my husband have been to some places where there’s flames on both sides of us .We get a little sketched out because it is very dangerous and it is scary,” Skinner said.
“I’m not worried about what’s on the side of me. I’m just worried about getting to where I need to go to get the animals and get back to safety,” Martorella said.
It’s a cause that’s close to the couple’s hearts. Skinner, a third generation cattle rancher, is doing this in memory of her late parents. They helped save two children from a Gonzales house fire years ago.
Skinner and Martorella are doing this all for free, accepting donations for feed and water if people are willing.
“We would rather take care of the animals so that the humans can take care of their own stuff and know that the animals are safe,” Skinner told KION.
And they're not alone, as more and more people call for help, reinforcements are coming in from across the state to help anyone in need.
Skinner told KION she wants people to know that they will come and help you if you need them to. They have teams stationed in multiple locations and can be reached at (831) 315-8732.
Skinner said they couldn't do it without the help of others in the group from around California, including Blake Cadigan who helps run the operation.
They said they did get turned around at times because it became unsafe for them to go any further so they can’t stress enough: make sure you get help for your animals before it’s too late.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said during the evacuation warning, they encourage people to get any help they can to take care of animals, but once the evacuation becomes an order, you need to leave and there isn’t time for them to allow people back in. So they recommend getting help during the warnings.
There are also other Central Coast agencies helping to evacuate and shelter people and animals. You can find more resources here.
