By Linda Williams /TWN Staff WriterFirefighters constructing a containment line along the along the western edge of the Mill fire July 15 were surprised to see a horse in the early morning smoke. The firefighters were able to capture the injured equine and take it back to their base camp before setting the planned backfire.
The horse, affectionately nicknamed Mr. Ed by his rescuers, had abrasions to his front legs and seemed very weak and dehydrated. Firefighters speculated the horse was probably spooked by the original lightning storm the night of July 20 and became disoriented in the smoky aftermath.
Firefighters fed apples to the horse from their sack lunches and he was able to drink from a nearby creek.
The Mill fire was only one of the fires burning in the Soda fire complex in the Mendocino National Forest. The Mill fire continues to burn east of Pine Mountain and is not expected to be contained until late this week.
(administrator comment: I bet they wish they had known about the Equine Mutual Aid Association :)
When word of the injured horse reached the incident command post, they contacted Willits large animal veterinarian Dr. Sheri Cronin to arrange a rescue mission.
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