scariest day of my life

[werecatrising]

Yesterday was one of the most frightening experiences of my life! We live in wild fire country. There are at least a few bad ones every year. I am completely paranoid about it. One of my worst fears has always been having my house burn down with my precious babies inside. It is really something I obsess about all of the time. I buy any animal carrier I find at garage sales, etc. I have them all stacked by the side of the house in case we need to leave in a hurry. Well, yesterday all my preparing was put to good use.

Yesterday evening I heard what sounded like an airplane flying overhead. I was in the middle of something, so didn't go outside to investigate. Private planes often fly the area taking pictures so I didn't think much of it. A minute or two later I hear a big commotion outside. My husband and I both ran outside. There was a man driving around warning everybody to pack up- we could soon be evacuated. At that point I thought we were ok. We figured we'd start loading everybody up just in case. Well, no more than 2 or 3 minutes had passed before we could see flames and a sheriff was telling us to leave. By that time my husband had loaded up the cats and I was working on the rabbits. I was really starting to panic now. They were telling us to leave, but I couldn't leave anyone behind. We just went as fast as we could while trying to stay somewhat organized. We managed to load up 16 rabbits, 15 rats, 3 guinea pigs,6 cats, 2 dogs, 8 geckos, a snake, and a frog. I grabbed my camera case since it was right out in the open and had my cards with all of my pictures on it. I didn't even have time to get anyone's food. We headed down to the hospital I work at and got everyone situated there.

We were able to come home this morning. I was really afraid we wouldn't have a house to return to. The fire started a mile away, but little ones were popping up all around us. There are 2 trees on the neighbors property that started to burn. I am told that just as they started to go the wind shifted and started putting things out.

I am told 2 houses were lost. I am not sure whose. I am going to head out in a bit to pick up some of the animals. Some will have to stay until the smoke clears. I just can't wait to get everyone home and settled.

 

[JadeIcing]

Thank god you are ok. How did everyone take it?

 

[werecatrising]

Everyone is holding up well. I was worried about the buns. I have a few that are super skittish and hate being handled. They are ok, though.One of my dogs, Darla, is going through heartworm treatment. (she was a rescue- infected when I got her) She was coughing last night. She will probably have to be hospitalized for a few days. There is still so much smoke and whatever that red stuff is they use to put out the flames. I don't want her around it right now.

 

[slavetoabunny]

How scary!!! I'm so glad that everyone is OK.

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Wow, that is scary! I'm so glad you got everyone out and that your home is okay. Also, that's really good advice to make sure you have a carrier for each of your pets in case you ever have to leave last minute. I happen to have carriers for all of mine, I was considering getting rid of 1 so I'd have less stuff, but not anymore! I don't really have to worry about wildfires where I live, but there are a lot of earthquakes and the winters are so cold that if our heat ever goes out, we'll need to pack up the pets and leave until it's fixed. So, thanks again, I'm glad everything's okay, but sad for the people who lost their houses!

 

[Haley]

Wow that is terrifying! I agree- a house fire is about my worst nightmare. Especially bc dogs and cats have a chance since they can come to the windows/doors and make noise whereas rabbits cannot.

Im so glad you got everyone out! I have an emergency kit on hand- I keep meaning to put it in my car so if we had to leave real quick I would have everything. I also keep a pillowcase near each rabbits cage in case I need to throw them in real quick and run out.

Thank God you are all ok!

 

[ilovetoeatchocolate]

Wow! You did a super job getting everyone out and okay. That must be such a relief. You must love your animals very much. Where do you keep all the rabbits by the way?
Shannon

 

[naturestee]

OMG that's so scary! I agree it's probably best for your one dog to not go home right now. I know my cousin had a lot of problems with her asthmatic baby when they had a lot of bad fires in the Denver area. Poor kid almost ended up back in an oxygen tank and they took extended vacation to go far enough away where he wouldn't be affected for several weeks.

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about wildfires or hurricanes where I live. Just tornadoes, and I'm much safer on the Lake Michigan shore now than I was in central WI growing up.

:hug:

 

[undergunfire]

I am so happy that you and the pets are safe! Fires are scary. They do control burns a few miles away from my house each year and it is very scary. I need to get organized and make up an emergency kit. I have 4 carriers for the bunnies, but I need to locate a larger sized one for the kitties and a small one for the ratties.

I don't know what I would do if we got evacuated. I would worry about all of our things that we worked so hard to get.

 

[TinysMom]

Oh wow - how scary. I understand a bit about evacuations...we lived at Andrews AFB on 9/11 - and we were one of the closest houses to the back gate. For a couple of weeks at least - we were told to evacuate due to bomb threats. I don't remember how many times it happened - and we never had to leave for more than a few hours - but that first evacuation was very very scary. All we knew was that there was a bomb threat and we had to leave NOW - we couldn't even pack up anything.

I'm glad you're ok and the pets are ok.

If you live in an area where this could happen more often - you may want to have an evacuation kit handy.

I eventually created one - with our birth certificates, marriage certificate, etc. - only to never have to use it again.

Anyway - back to you - I'm glad you're ok and the pets are ok!

 

[werecatrising]

That is a good point about having documents handy. I honestly never put much thought into what stuff we humans would need. I had a little kit made up with animal food, but I didn't really have time or room for it by the time we got everyone in the car.

I had to leave some of the buns at work. I have some house rabbits, and some "sanctuary" rabbits. The sanctuary rabbits are mostly buns who had been at my local, very high kill shelter. They are in 11x13 runs in the back. We soaked everything down before we left, so it is still wet. Plus the air is still heavy with smoke and that stuff they drop from the helicopters. I hope to be able to bring them home soon. They are in good hands. When I left them at the hospital I put 2 to a cage. I left notes of who could go with who in case they had to be moved. I was feeling bad since they weren't gonna get any veggies today. Well, when I went to check on them my co workers had set up stalls in our indoor barn so they could run around. They even went and got salad stuff!

 

[undergunfire]

Do you have an air purifier for the ratties? I would worry about them and their delicate respiratory systems. I was scared when there was a fire about 30 miles away...the air was thick with smoke and the ratties are so delicate.

 

[werecatrising]

I have a purifier for their sake and mine. I have severe asthma, so I am in the same boat as them. My husband had to come up this morning to make sure it was "clean" enough inside for me and the ratties.

 

[ilovetoeatchocolate]

ohhh sounds like a great husband!

 

[Becca]

At least you were prepared! Well done.. And I'm glad you and your husband and all your lovely pets are okay!

 

[mouse_chalk]

Wow.... That must have been terrifying. :shock:

Good on you for being so quick and getting all the animals out ok! I'm so glad that you're all safe and well...

Luckily for us, the evacuaiton thing isn't likely to scare us much- Bristol is mostly on a hill so flooding is unlikely, and obviously we don't get hurricanes/tornadoes/fires over here etc. The only thing we have had, and it's very minor was a fire in the school at the back of our house, and we were evacuated due to a possible gas leak. We just had to stand at the end of our road for 2 hours, and it was before the bunnies so nothing scary like that... Sounds like absoulutely nothing compared to what you went through! :?

How's your dog, Daria doing? :hug:

 

[BSAR]

I;m glad everyone is ok and you got everyone out in time. that certainly would be a scary situation. At least you were somewhat ready.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I am SO glad you had been preparing in case of an emergency! Glad no one is injured and you're all ok. I hope all your pets can come home soon and safely ray:and hope your one dog gets better soon!

Emily