Missoula, Mont. — Emergency planning for wildfires should include pets and livestock, especially for people caring for large animals like horses.
Shari Montana, founder of River Pines Horse Sanctuary, said planning ahead matters because moving horses quickly can be difficult in a fire.
“Just before I moved over here in 1991, there was a fire in the Spokane on the east side of town, and it went through a pasture, and a horse was burned standing in its own pasture. So, it's really important to be able to get your animals out,” said Montana.
Anne Miller, a field officer for Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, explained that pet plans should mirror family emergency plans.
“The same as you would be preparing the go bags for family members: extra clothes, your medications. That's also true for your pets and livestock. Regardless of the animal size, there's a lot you can do ahead of time on a day that you don't have [much] going on,” said Miller.
Montana said her sanctuary has a plan to move horses out fast if they are ever at risk. She also said friends and organizations are lined up to help take the animals in, if needed.
“Our plan is to be able to get horses out as quick as possible. What we do is make sure they're all trained to get in and out of the horse trailer easily. Our main thing is to make sure that they have enough training to do that,” said Montana.
Miller added that people who need help building an animal evacuation plan can reach out to DES, which can connect them with assistance in their area.
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