McKenna Robson found herself in Vancouver when she received alarming news about the Bald Range wildfire approaching her alpaca farm in Garnet Valley. Feeling powerless, she decided to remotely instruct cutting the fences on her property to give her 14 alpacas a fighting chance against the fast-approaching fire.

Robson shared her experience of guiding her family and friends via Facebook on what actions to take as the wildfire threatened their animals. Many animal owners in the region faced similar dilemmas as the Bald Range fire rapidly expanded, leading to tactical evacuations by emergency services.

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham highlighted the risk to about 50,000 agricultural animals due to the wildfires, with reports of livestock losses emerging. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined until the fall when ranging animals might return to their properties independently.

While some owners like Greg Krautner managed to evacuate with their animals, others were left grappling with the emotional turmoil of leaving their animals behind in the face of the wildfires. Evacuees recounted heartbreaking scenes of horses and cows fleeing into the flames and smoke as they were forced to evacuate.

The evacuation orders in the area prevented most owners from checking on their animals, but Summerland issued temporary permits to select animal care organizations to assist in tending to the livestock. The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) mobilized volunteers to rescue a variety of animals from evacuation zones, including horses, pigs, fish, and lizards.

Daryl Meyers from ALERT shared that they were working through numerous requests to feed, water, and evacuate animals in the Okanagan region. Meyers emphasized the resilience of the animals, noting how they respond positively to human contact and care during these challenging times.

The incident underscored the importance of owners being prepared with evacuation plans for their animals, including having crates or trailers ready and practicing loading procedures for emergencies. Despite the devastation in Garnet Valley, all of Robson’s alpacas survived the fire, either fleeing the property or seeking refuge in a nearby pond.

Robson, having briefly visited the burnt-out area before evacuating to Penticton, recounted the harrowing sight of her alpacas huddled together in the charred field, having lost their shelter and resources but miraculously surviving the ordeal.