No Official Animal Evacs Yet, But Team is Ready
TUESDAY, AUG. 30, 2016, 5:15 p.m. – Riverside County Animal Services dispatched officers to the area of the Bogart Fire in the Cherry Valley area Tuesday afternoon.
The officers are at the Incident Command Post but have not yet handled any animal evacuations (as of 5 p.m.), but are on scene if their services are needed. One of the officers drove out a horse trailer. More officers have been put on stand-by mode.
The certified and trained members of the department’s all-volunteer unit, the Riverside Emergency Animal Rescue System (REARS), have been informed to be ready if more people are needed to help.
Animal control officers have learned that some residents in the area have already removed their own pets, and some have come to the aid of their neighbors with large animals.
Pet owners can transport large animals to Noble Creek Park, located at 650 W. Oak Valley Parkway in Beaumont. Animal Services will care for the large pets during any mandatory evacuation periods.
The fire was first reported at about 12:25 p.m. and had scorched roughly 400 acres in three hours, forcing evacuations of residents in the area known as the Banning Bench. The total burn area was about 500 acres as of 4:40 p.m., and just 5 percent contained. About 700 people had been displaced. About 200 people were evacuated.
Residents can track official statistics regarding the Bogart Fire at the Riverside County Fire Department’s incident page; here’s a link:
http://www.rvcfire.org/_Layouts/Incident%20Information/IncidentInfoDetail.aspx?2843
We will update pet owners with further information if any animals are impounded by Riverside County officers.
