Over a dozen horses are residing at the Amador County, California, fairgrounds after wildfire drove the animals from their Northern California homes. Lynn Tolmachoff, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman, said wildfires began burning near the Northern California wine country and in the Sierra Nevada foothills on July 25. By Sunday (July 27), the so-called Sand Fire had scorched 13 homes and 38 outbuildings, including barns in Amador and El Dorado counties, she said. Some homes and farms were evacuated ahead of the blaze, she said. “Some were ordered evacuations, and others were voluntary,” Tolmachoff said. Eighteen horses were taken to stalls at the Amador County Fairgrounds, said Karen Spencer, director of marketing for the Amador County Fair, where they joined livestock and other animals taking part in the Amador County Fair, which tool place July 24 through 27. Despite scheduled events, the fairgrounds were able to accommodate the displaced horses, she said. “People in the horse world and in the livestock world move over to take care of the horses,” Spencer said. “They do what they have to do.” Spencer said that the horses will remain at the fairgrounds until their owners return to their homes. On July 28, Tolmachoff said that the Sand Fire was 55% contained.
