Amid the devastating Park Fire that has ripped through parts of Northern California since July 24, an act of heroism by a Butte County emergency responder has brought some hope to the affected community. As the blaze forced thousands to evacuate, one family's plight stood out when their truck, carrying two adult Rottweilers and a litter of puppies, broke down, leaving them stranded near Cohasset in the fire’s dangerous path.
Trevor Skaggs, a member of the Butte County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team, valiantly ran 1.5 miles on Sunday to reach the dogs after being flown into the otherwise inaccessible area by helicopter. According to a report by ABC10, Skaggs found four puppies and their mother alive but dehydrated and without the puppies' father, who did not survive. He managed to, quickly give the surviving dogs water and a bit of sustenance before leading them back to the awaiting helicopter.
After the rescue, the dogs were taken to Chico Airport and are now receiving care from the North Valley Animal Disaster Group. The organization has been overwhelmed with animals in need due to the fire, with totals reaching 61 large animals like cows and horses, and 84 smaller pets, CBS News reports.
"The puppies and their mother were then flown to the Chico Airport and are now being cared for by members of the North Valley Animal Disaster Group," the Butte County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Skaggs's swift action not only saved the dogs' lives but also served to somewhat uplift a beleagured community that is grappling to come to terms with the extensive damage caused by the Park Fire. To further commend the effort, the animal rescue group indicate on Facebook that despite the fire that had "cut off all ground contact with the region," Skaggs committed to carry out the remarkable rescue.
