Dozens of animals were reunited with their owners after being forced to evacuate due to a massive blaze in the Calabasas area. Gordon Tokumatsu reports for the NBC4 News at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 6, 2016.
Dozens of animals were reunited with their owners Monday after being forced to evacuate due to a massive blaze that burned more than 500 acres in the hills above Calabasas.
Pets, livestock and shelter animals were taken to Los Angeles Pierce College and Agoura Animal Care Center over the weekend to escape the so-called Old Fire that, at one point, forced 5,000 residents and their animals to evacuate their homes.
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control set up the emergency centers, where animals got round-the-clock care, heating and air conditioning.
The tally included nine goats, 37 chickens, a bunch of cats, dogs and birds, and 87 horses.
"I think all the domestic dogs and cats and small animals are home. About half of the horses went home," said Marcia Mayeda with the LA County's Animal Care and Control.
Mette Tosencrantz, who runs the Mill Creek Equestrian Center in Topanga dropped off 70 horses at Pierce College due to the fire.
While picking them up on Monday, she felt a sense of relief and was grateful all the animals were doing fine.
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"Now, we have to sign out again and take them home," Tosencrantz said "Hopefully, life just goes on like normal."
The 516-acre, which broke out shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday, destroyed one commercial building and damaged four other structures. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, fire officials said.
Authorities were investigating whether the fire sparked after a driver lost control of a sport utility vehicle and crashed into power poles, downing lines in three different places, according to LA County Fire.
All evacuation orders and road closures had been lifted as of Sunday evening. The fire was 80 percent contained.
