Massive fire threatens CA Wolf Center

Oct. 29, 2003, Update Oct. 30, 2003

Among the massive fires devastating southern California, one near Julian, east of San Diego has reportedly threatened and perhaps overwhelmed the California Wolf Center, where many endangered Mexican wolves are kept and bred.

There is also a happy, but unconfirmed report that that much of the Center was saved at the last minute. This is not confirmed, and of course the fire is still burning and shifting around.

We are waiting with tense anticipation for the final news.

10-30. Update from Patrick Valentino of CWC (this was forwarded to me):

This fire is western approaching (versus last year's
Pines Fire that came from the East)

On Tuesday, in addition to exisiting fire breaks
volunteer staff cut larger fire breaks around all
enclosures to the west, cut new breaks to the west of
the house and across the land to the north of us.
Additional larger breaks were cut on the western
property line crossing the property line to our north
as well.

Fire came over the western hill to our south at
10-1030 on Tuesday nite. This was predictable given
the location of the fire breaks. The southern border
property is full of thick trees and we did not have
access to do any work on that land.

At about midnite or so it made its way through the
property to our south very close to several
enclosures. Fire breaks appeared to be effective.

A smaller group of staff stayed with the wolves and
the Center as the fire came through. Two staff
including one volunteer firefighter fought the flames
pushing them south away from the wolves.

Embers showered all of us lighting fires behind us but
still south of the enclosures.

Certain volunteers needed to scale down a steep
cliffed canyon to stay away from the fire.
One volunteer firefighter also a volunteer for the
wolf center used a water truck to keep water on
smoldering areas all around the wolf enclosures.

At this time it appears that the wolves are okay
however we are rechecking more specifically. So far
the fire did not breach the western breaks .

The danger and threat is not over yet, in the meantime
Lets stay positive.
 

  Copyright © 2003 Ralph Maughan