Wildfire tips

* Cleared area: Wildfire is a real possibility where we're located in a desert canyon. We have at least 30 feet of defensible (cleared of brush) space around the animals and ourselves. One helpful thing for sanctuaries such as ours is a large cleared area, perhaps a parking area, where the animals can be led and tied up. A large defensible space between buildings/beings and fire fuel like grass and brush is important in two ways. It makes it less likely the fire will jump from the fuel to what's important because there's nothing to burn. Further, it's simple reality that if firefighters have a choice between defending a place that has a chance of being saved because of defensible space and one that has little chance of being saved because of little or no defensible space, they're going to choose the one that has the best chance for a successful outcome.


* Being able to handle the animals: Many people who get large animals such as donkeys or potentially onry animals like goats often don't handle them enough. It's one thing to not use the animals for your own means, but it's another to train them enough to be handable for health care checks and in the event they need to be moved in an emergency. Regular working with the animals is important. This means haltering and leading the donkeys and leashing goats. (You can use one-piece calf harnesses on goats, too. We prefer a dog collar and leash.) You need to be able to lead them into a trailer. Food motivation can help, but with a fire bearing down, training and familiarity with trailers and harnesses will make things go much more smoothly.


* Get them out and round them up later: If you're not taking them anywhere specific and you're not moving them in a trailer, then another possibility is setting them free and rounding them up later. They will likely perish if left to cower in their sheds or barns. Once they hunker down in a disaster, they're not moving and smoke inhalation at the very least becomes a problem. Move them outside using whatever means are available. They will likely be safer roaming free than they will in a burning building. They can always be rounded up later. Domestic farm animals won't roam far, and out in the open, they can better flee the flames.


* Human tip — don't wet your bandanna: One temptation is to soak your bandanna with water, with the thought that this will be cooler or somehow helpful. It's not. Fire will superheat the moisture in the bandanna and burn your lungs. The bandanna is most helpful when dry in order to filter the smoke.