As massive B.C. wildfire raged, groups worked to rescue livestock, animals

When the Bald Range wildfire ignited near Summerland on Friday afternoon, thousands of residents prepared to evacuate their homes. However, many farms in the area housed livestock, necessitating their safe relocation as the evacuation order was issued. Kaz Nowlin, part of a group responding to fires across the interior, recounted their efforts to rescue animals.

"We jumped in our trucks and come here, and we’ve been 24 hours now straight," Nowlin shared. Over the course of the operation, they accounted for 52 horses, 25 goats, six sheep, a few dogs, and some cats. Chelsie Lesnoski, a member of the Summerland horse riding community, echoed the sentiment, explaining that the rescued animals included a diverse array of livestock.

As social media buzzed with posts requesting assistance in locating animals set free by the advancing flames, the B.C. Livestock Producers Co-op stepped in to assist. They opened their Okanagan Falls stockyard to accommodate cattle, with additional space available in Kamloops. The co-op's Cordy Cox highlighted the tight-knit nature of B.C.'s ranching and livestock industry, noting that ranches unaffected by the fires generously offered their pastures, fields, and feedlots to house the rescued animals.

Despite the ongoing threat of fires, Nowlin reiterated his willingness to continue answering calls for help, urging those at risk to contact them.