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

[Huggybecky]

Jon's my uncle! :-) x

[chase1953]

good man

[Firstluv1999]

I lived in Mariposa all through high school and I love it! I live in Connecticut now but I still have a lot of memories of Mariposa High! The saw mill. lol

Please pray for the fire to get under control before it destroys an amazing piece of history!

Heaven Liberty(Ulrich)

[Sondakhan]

Jon is an awesome guy and I'm proud to know him.

[cherriechik]

I Choose Pets, And If It Comes Down To It I'll Choose Them..That's My Home And This Fire Is Destroying All Of It. Mariposa Is Such An Amazing Place...I Don't Want My Kids To Grow Up Not Knowing It The Way It Was...My Town Is Burning..Please Pray.

[Mavis]

I would choose pets. You can always rebuild.

[WinterHaven]

A pet owner has a responsibility saving them-they are innocent and helpless and depend on their human owners to save them. Which would you choose? Your babies or your home? I would choose my pets. I would never let them burn to death alive. That's sick and cruel.

[x11115]

he would have not been able to save the house so it wasn't a choice.

[dadarkenedmoon]

I choose house. Houses are dispensible.