Firefighters Battling Northern California Wildfire Save Burned Dog

Thousands of pets have been displaced by the Butte Fire and Valley Fire wildfires that are burning now in Northern California. Here’s how you can help them.

Since it began July 29, the so-called Rocky Fire in Northern California has spread across more than 100 square miles, destroying 43 houses. As of Friday, it was only 50 percent contained.

“This is a very fast-moving wildfire,” Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant told Reuters Aug. 2. “Within a five-hour period last night 20,000 acres burned, and that is unprecedented growth in that short amount of time.”

More than 2,000 firefighters have been battling the blaze. Thursday, two of these heroes from the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority stopped to save an injured Leonberger.

“Took a break from firefighting to save this slightly burned, very dehydrated and tired dog my engine crew found wandering,” wrote Ted H. in the description of a video he posted on Instagram. One of the firefighters shared his sandwich with the dog.

“Called animal rescue in and they took him to doggie hospital,” Ted H. wrote.

Another lucky Rocky Fire pet is a cat from Clearlake Oaks. Her pet parent, Brian Foster, was able to quickly evacuate his home with his family and cats, but one cat went into hiding and had to be left behind, he told CBS San Francisco.

That cat apparently used one of her nine lives to survive the fire. She’s still hiding, however. “Once the other cats come home, she’ll come out,” Foster said.

To help this dog and other animals displaced by the Rocky Fire, you can make a donation via the Orphan Dog: Rocky Animal Fund, a crowdfunding campaign started by the Northern California rescue organization Orphan Dog.

Photo via Instagram