Fast-Moving Fires Have Solano County Livestock Owners Banding Together
SOLANO COUNTY (CBS13) — More than 40 local families are banding together on Facebook to fight fires before they ignite.
A lot of livestock owners in Solano County are concerned about the fire season, especially after last year. In 2015, blazes like the Butte Fire and Valley Fire chewed through thousands of acres hitting homes and vulnerable livestock.
Vicki Dawson is a livestock owner, and she and her neighbors in the Vacaville area get nervous this time of the year.
"If you live out in the country and you have large animals trust me everybody every fire season that is the main thing on their mind what do we do if a fire breaks out in our neighborhood," she said.
FACEBOOK GROUP: Solano County livestock evacuation network
But this year is about being proactive and not reactive. She's launched a Facebook page connecting area livestock owners and ranchers.
"You might have neighbors just right down the road but you don't have their phone number. You don't how to get a hold of them to say hey I need some help getting my animals out," she said.
Her goal is to pool their resources during a fast-moving wildfire. In an emergency, they would share livestock transport vehicles, open temporary boarding facilities and offer livestock feed and water.
"Network neighbors so that if a devastating wildfire comes around we can get the animals out in a safe way and that they have somewhere to go to be fostered for a short time," she said.
The network isn't replacing first responders, but she says it will supplement them when the next wildfire strikes.
"Because last year proved that it can happen anywhere and it could be quick and you just don't have time," she said.
