Police Rush To Help Dogs And Cats In Shelter Threatened By Wildfire


Police officers are often called on to save individuals during a time of disaster. In the Vacaville, California area, police officers went above and beyond to save 60 individuals but they were not people, they were dogs and cats who were housed in an animal shelter. That shelter was under the threat of a nearby wildfire.

In the video footage, you see staff and volunteers along with police officers rushing to get the cats into cages and putting leashes on dogs. The fire is meanwhile burning very close in the background.

Those cats and dogs were housed in the SPCA building. There were a number of wildfires burning in Solano County and it appeared as if that facility was directly in the path of the Nelson Fire.

“As the Nelson Fire raced towards the south end of town, it looked like the Solano SPCA would be the first to be hit by the flames, Vacaville Police Department wrote. “Our officers worked with Humane Animal Services, SPCA staff and volunteers to evacuate all they could in a race against the clock.”

“All of the animals are out of the shelter for the night and the shelter wasn’t damaged,” the Solano SPCA wrote on Facebook. “We are smokey but we are OK.”

The animals that were saved were placed in foster homes overnight. By Sunday, the SPCA asked that the animals be returned to the building. Fortunately, it had been spared destruction by the fire.

PD fights the clock as the Nelson Fire races towards the Solano SPCA

As the Nelson Fire raced towards the south end of town, it looked like the Solano SPCA would be the first to be hit by the flames. Our officers worked with Humane Animal Services, SPCA staff and volunteers to evacuate all they could in a race against the clock.**Additionally, here is information directly from SPCA Solano's official page:We wanted to give a quick update and thank everyone for their support. We understand that many people are under the impression that we left a volunteer and cats behind last night in the fire. We were forced to evacuate under extremely short notice. Vacaville Police Department was gracious enough to fit as many animals as they could in their vehicles to help us. Unfortunately we were under the impression that all animals were out and safe when we evacuated. We found out later that there had been a few cats still in the cat building. However, fire crews were stationed on our property, outside that building, ready to protect it. The volunteer that was in there went in illegally and crossed the fire line without anyone knowing after we had been out for quite a while. We would never leave a person behind. If we knew he was in there, we would have called to inform first responders to get him out! Once it was deemed safe, shortly after we found out a volunteer was there, two of our staff members were able to be escorted in by the police department to get the remainder of the animals out. All animals are safe in foster homes at this time. Unfortunately we do not have power or water at this time but all 60 of our animals are safe in foster homes for the time being. We are hoping to get in there tomorrow to clean up the ash and debris inside our kennel building and around the property. We thank you all so much for your donations, love, support, and concerns. The Vacaville community has been so gracious to open their homes and hearts for us. If you have pictures from last night feel free to post them on our page.If you are still looking to donate, we will keep you posted as for when we will be able to accept them. Only two staff members were able to go in today and get an idea of where we are at. Fire crews were still working today putting out hot spots and we are grateful for their hard work. We are extremely lucky and thankful to the fire departments and police departments who were on site last night and on the front lines. Thank you!Media inquiries can be directed to Lt. Mark Donaldson @ (707) 975-2486.

Posted by Vacaville Police Department on Sunday, August 12, 2018

An additional update was provided on the SPCA Solano’s official page:

“We wanted to give a quick update and thank everyone for their support. We understand that many people are under the impression that we left a volunteer and cats behind last night in the fire. We were forced to evacuate under extremely short notice. Vacaville Police Department was gracious enough to fit as many animals as they could in their vehicles to help us.”

“Unfortunately we were under the impression that all animals were out and safe when we evacuated. We found out later that there had been a few cats still in the cat building.

“However, fire crews were stationed on our property, outside that building, ready to protect it. The volunteer that was in there went in illegally and crossed the fire line without anyone knowing after we had been out for quite a while. We would never leave a person behind. If we knew he was in there, we would have called to inform first responders to get him out!

“Once it was deemed safe, shortly after we found out a volunteer was there, two of our staff members were able to be escorted in by the police department to get the remainder of the animals out.

“All animals are safe in foster homes at this time. Unfortunately, we do not have power or water at this time but all 60 of our animals are safe in foster homes for the time being.

“We are hoping to get in there tomorrow to clean up the ash and debris inside our kennel building and around the property. We thank you all so much for your donations, love, support, and concerns. The Vacaville community has been so gracious to open their homes and hearts for us.”


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