Deputies Escort Valley Fire Evacuees To Reunite With Pets

CALISTOGA (CBS13) – Some Valley Fire evacuees are being allowed back home to get their pets.

For some these families, it will be the first time they will see their homes -- or what's left of it -- since the evacuation.

Keith Nowell, who was recently reunited with his dog, talked to CBS13 as they were out for an early morning walk.

"He's part of the family; the same as one of our sons," said Nowell.

Even with minutes to evacuate, Nowell made sure Mr. Wrinkles came along.

"He's with us all the time; he goes to work with us every day; no way he was going to be left behind," said Nowell.

Nowell knows he is one of the lucky ones.

"A lot of people have nothing now...unfortunately we have lots of neighbors that lost pets. Some had no choice but to leave pets behind in the chaos of trying to race the flames to safety.

"I know one woman came in she had a three-horse trailer and she had to pick which three horses out of six horse to bring down," said Pam Ingalls with Wine Country Animal Lovers.

Ingalls said some families set horses free, marking them with paint or phone numbers hoping they can find them later.

"They had to open up gates to let them run and hope that they could survive the fire," she said.

Since the evacuation, people have been waiting anxiously to see if their pets are OK. On Tuesday, those families will get a chance to try and bring back their furry loved ones.

Sheriff deputies will be escorting people to their homes, giving them 15 minutes to check on the pets they had to leave behind.

"Hopefully we can bring some pets back down and find pets that people are missing," said Ingalls.

Lake County public schools are closed today. Several districts inside of fire-devastated areas plan to stay closed for the rest of the week.