Calif. Residents Choose Between Homes or Pets

PlusCalif. Residents Choose Between Homes or PetsCalif. Residents Choose Between Homes or PetsThe Associated PressAs a wildfire roars outside of Yosemite Nat'l Park, some animal lovers are being forced to choose between trying to save their homes or rescue their pets. The blaze has destroyed dozens of houses and charred nearly 50 square miles. (July 29)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] (locator - Mariposa, CA)HORSE TRAINER JON CURRIE HAD A HARROWING DECISION TO MAKE AS A WILDFIRE ROARED TOWARDS HIS HOUSE OUTSIDE YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: TRY TO SAVE THE HOME HE'S LIVED IN FOR 35 YEARS...OR QUICKLY ROUND UP THE 8 HORSES AND ONE DONKEY ON HIS PROPERTY AND WALK THEM OUT OF THE FIRE.Jon Currie, Home Destroyed, says: "It was better to save the horses...you just gotta do the right thing."ALTHOUGH HE SAVED THE HORSES, CURRIE'S HOME...ALONG WITH AT LEAST 25 OTHER HOUSES NEARBY...WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE'S BURNED NEARLY 50 SQUARE MILES OF LAND. SO FAR NO SERIOUS INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO BATTLE THE BLAZE FROM THE SKY. (fire drop nats)Haven Daley, Associated Press, says: "Fire crews here have not only evacuated thousands of residents. They've also rescued hundreds of their animals."Sarah Gibson, CAL FIRE Spokesperson, says: "We just went in there and rescued a ton of equine. We have dogs and cats that were rescued. It's personally heart wrenching for me to see."Katrina Stone, Evacuee, says: "This community is a very rural, farm-oriented, ranch-type place and our animals are our family."CURRIE SAYS HE'LL LEAN ON HIS HORSES AND HIS FAITH TO GET HIM THROUGH THE LOSS OF HIS HOME.Jon Currie, Home Destroyed, says: "It's all I got."HAVEN DALEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• yosemitefire
• calif.
• residents
• choose
• between
• homes
• pets

[gungagin]

I'm so sorry those poor people had to make such a choice. My heart goes out to them.

[jbryant13]

He did the right thing - he couldn't have saved the house anyway - it's a shame - but you can thank the environmental whackos pushing "no old growth cutting" for these fires.