On September 6th, one of the largest wildfires in California history caused the rapid evacuation of hundreds of families in Fresno County. Fresno Humane teamed up with the Central California Animal Disaster Team to create an emergency shelter for pets displaced by the fire. Over 200 dogs and 300 cats (along with an assortment of rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, and snakes) ended up needing assistance over the course of 3 weeks. Pets were housed in large wire crates in a makeshift shelter, first located at Granite Ridge Intermediate School, then moved to the larger Commerce Building at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Dozens of volunteers showed up regularly to walk every dog multiple times a day in order to keep them clean and comfortable. Other volunteers focused on caring for the hundreds of cats and kittens stacked in cages. We won’t lie—it was a little chaotic and very stressful to coordinate the housing and care of so many animals on the fly! But the outpouring of support from the community bolstered our efforts and provided badly needed supplies and manpower. Several local agencies teamed up to help, as well: Clovis Animal Services, Animal Compassion Team, Fresno Bully Rescue, Pet Medical Center, Cat House on the Kings, and several others sent staff and volunteers to assist. The Fresno Humane field services team drove up to evacuated areas daily to provide water and food for animals left by owners to “shelter in place” in their homes. As evacuation orders were lifted, families were able to reclaim their pets and safely return to their homes. Some lost their homes to the fire and required assistance with placement and/or long-term boarding. As people move back in evacuated regions, more stray animals are being reported and brought to the shelter for safe-housing, some injured and in need of veterinary care. Throughout the recovery process, Fresno Humane will remain committed to helping County residents and their pets impacted by the Creek Fire.