750-Pound Hog Flees Trailhead Fire With Family In Tow

EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) —  The scorching heat and blazing fire created fatally dangerous conditions for livestock, especially a 750-pound hog named Sam and his 4 legged family of five.

"When he got here he was very distressed from the heat. It was like 105 that day and pigs apparently cannot sweat, so they don't do well in the heat unless they have moisture somewhere," said Aimee Vukovich, director of, Scalr Large Animal Emergency Evacuation.

The Trailhead fire broke out a mile from Sam's home in El Dorado County and while conducting evacuation orders, patrols encountered the pig, but wrangling the almost 1,000-pound animal wouldn't be easy.

"As you can see if Sam doesn't want to do something then you're not going to make him do it. It's not like you can put a halter on him and lead him into a stall," she said.

With help from the Sheriff's department, animal services, and some good citizens, they were able to pack up Sam, Mamma Dean and their three Samlets and take them to a private facility; a shelter donated by a citizen during desperate times.

"For these five pigs it's been extremely useful. Where else would they have gone? It's not like you can take a pig over to your neighbors and they would have a place to contain it," Vukovich added.

As if it weren't hard enough to wrangle a 750-pound pig, they also had to wrangle the mamma, the piglets, and a dozen chickens.

"Everybody seems to be doing well now," she said.

At the very least they escaped and have a cozy shelter to wait out the fire in hopes of returning to their hog haven.

His owners issued this Facebook post:

Dear El Dorado County Sheriff's department and El Dorado County animal services. Dave and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts on behalf of Sam, mama Dean, and the three baby pigs. Your kindness, caring and skilled handling of our animals ensured their safety and well being during a very perilous and stressful time for them and us. Sam had other ideas about where he felt safe but you didn't give up on him and got him to safety with patience and respect. Thank you is all we can say but know our hearts are full of gratitude. Our animals mean so much to us. Thank you and bless you for the great work you do. Sounds like Sam left you with quite an impression and some stories that will be shared.

Sincerely, Dave and Karen Aschoff

Fire Update:

The Trailhead fire burning in Placer and El Dorado Counties is 50 percent contained, Monday night.
More than 2,100 firefighters are still battling the 54 hundred acre fire in the American River Canyon.
Mandatory evacuations have been lifted in some areas.