Wildfire Preparedness for Animals

Animals in Disasters

Before a Fire

Livestock

Since keeping livestock is often a business and the logistics are well outside of most firefighting capacity, emergency responders treat these animals as the responsibility of the owners.

  • Make a plan:
    • for evacuation
    • for sheltering in place
    • Resources
    • Maintain detailed animal records
      • Record all tags, tattoos, microchips, brands, etc
      • Location and inventory of animals at various times of the year
      • Photos of high value individuals
      • Proof of ownership
    • Store animal records and evacuation plans in multiple locations, including:
      • with remote family and colleagues
      • in the Cloud
      • with professionals (veterinarian, extension agent, emergency services, banker, lawyer, accountant, etc)
    • Register for emergency alerts from the state and county
      • Consider all possible locations of your herd/flock throughout the year
    • Determine your property/grazing area’s risk:
  • Fire-harden your property
  • Put together an emergency kit (Equine Evacuation Kit Checklist)
    • Trailer (perform regular maintenance)
    • Feed, water, and necessary buckets for about a week (if possible)
    • Shavings and manure management tools (pitch forks, broom, shovel, bucket, wheelbarrow)
    • Medications and instructions
    • Flashlight
    • Halters and leads (non-nylon - nylon halters melt and will not break)
    • Blindfold, muzzle (if needed), blanket, fly mask
    • Duct tape, permanent markers, or spray paint (for secondary identification - see below)
    • Bandage material and disinfectant
    • Hand sanitizer, soap, and towels
    • Baling twine
    • Hoof pick / knife / wire cutters
    • Trash can with lid or waterproof tote
    • Trash bags and ziplocs
    • Battery operated portable radio (with spare batteries)
    • Cell phone charger and backup battery
    • Important phone numbers
      • Veterinarian
      • Boarding facility
      • Friends/Relatives (how could coordinate care)
      • Neighbors
  • Establish an evacuation/or feeding location (>2-3 hours away)
    • Build your emergency support network and plan
      • 3-10 days of feed and ability to transport it
      • Determine how long evacuation will take
      • Determine what additional help you might need
      • Consider special needs for lactating animals (milking facility or dry-off)
  • Contact your county Emergency Manager or USU Ag Extension agent to find their designated sheltering location
  • Share your plan, contact information, and animal inventory with your emergency support network

Pets

  • Make a plan for evacuation and a plan for sheltering in place
  • Share your contact information with friends, family, and neighbors
  • Choose a remote pet emergency contact
    • Someone who lives at least 2-5 hours away
      • Unlikely to also be affected during an emergency
      • Help responders reunite you and your pets
      • Provide responders with pet information (vaccinations, medications, care guidelines)
  • Make a plan with neighbors
    •  In case you are away when an emergency strikes to check on your animals or take care of them
  • Collect paperwork and make copies
    • Store in the cloud, with family/friends, or some other remote location
      • In an emergency, your veterinary clinic will likely be overwhelmed/ inoperable, so do not rely on their records being accessible
    • Proof of vaccination / medical record / microchip number
  • Photos of your pet (preferably with you in them to establish ownership)
  • Register for emergency alerts from the state and county
  • Put together an evacuation kit (Cat/Dog Evacuation Kit Checklist)(Backyard Poultry Evacuation Kit Checklist)
    • 1-2 weeks of food, water, bowls
    • Medications with instructions
    • Properly fitted collar / harness and leashes / muzzle
    • Waterproof container for food and toys
    • 1 crate or carrier per animal
    • Cat litter and box or plastic bags
    • Blankets / beds / toys / towels
    • Phone numbers
  • Resources

During a Fire Event

  • Ensure the safety of yourself and your family
  • Monitor local outlets for news and the latest updates
    • Do NOT wait until the last minute to evacuate
    • Try to move as calmly as possible and during daylight hours
    • Statewide Fire Reports: Utah Fire Info
  •  Use proper animal handling technique
    • Animals become easily agitated when stressed and will behave in ways that may be surprising and even dangerous
    • Keep pets on leashes, in crates, or carriers
    • Keep livestock in familiar locations or solidly constructed locations
      • Use calm handling and good stockmanship
      • Move as slowly as possible

Livestock

To Go

  • Proactively stage animals in smaller corrals in preparation for evacuation
    • Fill vehicle gas tanks, hitch trailers, and stage them near corrals
    • Check tire pressures and other vehicle safety parameters
    • Fill water tubs
    • Do everything within your power to evacuate all animals
    • Determine evacuation location
      • Contact county emergency manager
      • Contact livestock groups, USU Extension, Farm Bureau, FFA, 4-H, County Fair Board, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, or other associations if you are in need of assistance.
  • Add secondary identification
    • RFIDs, ranch tags, and brands may be burned and unusable
    • Tape in mane, clip into coat, spray paint, or permanent marker on hooves
  • Remove halters or anything that could get caught
  • Maintain contact with neighbors, friends, and family both within and outside of the danger zone
    • Relay your evacuation information
    • Record where animals are taken

To Stay

  • Move animals to a location with fewest fuels (safe haven pasture)
    • The best locations are heavily grazed or irrigated pasture
    • Leave irrigation on if possible
  • Leave enough feed and water for 7-10 days
    • Turn off electricity and propane
    • Do NOT rely on automatic waterers
  • Leave gates open
    • HOWEVER: ensure that released animals will not be a danger to or hinder response efforts in any way
  • Record animal type, number, location and what gates were left open and provide that information to county emergency management

Pets

To Stay

  • Leave pets indoors
    • Never tie them up
    • Interior spaces that can be cleaned are best
    • Animals left alone for long periods of time near windows may try to break out of them
  • Provide feed and water for a week
    • Do NOT rely on automatic waterers, as power is often lost
    • Fill bathtub half way with water or leave a sink dripping into a large container
  • Attach your name/phone number to animals
  • Leave on a note on the door letting first responders know animals are inside

To Go

  • Let neighbors and family know that you have evacuated with your animals
    • Leave a note to that effect on your door
    • Include your contact information
  • Contact emergency management to determine if there is a pet shelter available.
    • Determine if additional pet food, supplies and veterinary care are available
  • Use Pet First Aid App, internet search or local media to find shelter locations (motels / hotels / shelters) that accept pets.

If you stay with your pets

  • Follow all the above guidelines
  • Prepare for aftercare if your pets are exposed to heat, fire, smoke, or ash

After a Fire

Livestock

  • Return
    • Only return once you are given permission by the authorities
    • Make sure feed and water are safe
      • Water sources may have been contaminated by fire fighting efforts
    • Check fences, water sources, and structures before return
    • Plan on animal movement taking longer than expected
      • Animals will be stressed and easily disoriented
      • Place water and feed in familiar locations and containers
      • Ensure all animals have identification
  • If you are unable to return
    • Make a plan for this worst-case scenario
  • Injured animals
    • Locate, gather, and check animals for injury or illness
    • Contact your veterinarian to develop an animal recovery plan
      • Fire-exposed animals are very difficult to triage and treat
        • Separate into groups based on severity of injuries
          • Untreatable → humane euthanasia
          • Moderate to severe → hospital treatment
          • Unaffected to mild → initial treatment and monitor
        • Fire injuries may worsen for up to 6 weeks post incident
          • Burns
          • Lung damage
          • Nerve damage
        • Consider:
          • Size of burns
          • Smoke exposure / inhalation of gases
          • Nerve damage
          • Shock
          • Animals will hide signs of injury
          • General animal welfare and suffering
    • Report missing animals to state and local authorities and your neighbors
  • If deaths occur
    • Do not move carcasses off-site until given permission by relevant authority
    • Document location and take photos
    • Once allowed, properly dispose of carcasses per local regulations
      • Local health codes, landfill policy, water table
  • Seek out assistance
  • Recover

Additional Resources

USU Extension: Farm Disaster Preparation

Oregon Extension: Livestock Wildfire Long Form Preparation Video

EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network): Wildfire Page

American Red Cross: Picking Up the Pieces After a Fire

Targeted Grazing for Fuels Load Reduction

Prep 4 Ag Threats: Wildfire and Livestock Handout

Alberta Extension: Short Livestock Preparation Video

AVMA: Save the Whole Family - Pet Disaster Preparation Guide

California Extension Videos: Commercial Livestock Operation Preparedness

Wildfire and Cattle Health

Impact of Fire on Rangeland