Horses on a smoke-filled road in Ventura County, California, on Wednesday (October 30) looked towards the wildfire tearing through nearby brush and ran the other way. As flames borne by dangerously strong Santa Ana winds spread into the area, people raced to round up scores of horses and emergency responders arrived, sirens blaring.
Authorities in California have had a lot of practice evacuating horses, as wildfires become more frequent and intense, which the state says is largely a function of climate change.
More than 200 horses were hauled to safety in the Saddleridge Fire near the San Fernando Valley earlier this month.
One of the area's worst fires, the December 2017 Thomas fire, which swept through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, killed at least 54 horses, authorities said.
Extraordinarily dry and prolonged windy conditions are predicted to gust through Southern California on Wednesday, prompting strong warnings from meteorologists as residents contend with damaging wildfires.
The Santa Ana winds are a regional weather phenomenon that sends gusts westward off the desert out to the Southern California coast. They are forecast to reach sustained speeds of 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 110 km per hour) on Wednesday and Thursday, raising the risk of sparks and embers being whipped into fresh wildfires in unburned areas.
The National Weather Service issued an "extreme red flag" warning for wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Workers from Los Angeles' Animal Services Department said they would welcome any horse that needs shelter for as long as necessary.
Southern California is one of the largest horse-racing centers in the United States, with its sunny climate allowing horses to run year-round. Moreover, the canyons and foothills are an inviting terrain for recreational riders.
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