JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Many animals were given temporary homes at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds due to wildfires.
As of Tuesday night, 209 animals were still staying at the fairgrounds.
The fairgrounds manager, Brittney Reitbeld, said Jefferson County keeps stalls up year-round for evacuation purposes and events, and they typically get a call for an evacuation one or two times per year. Anyone no longer under an evacuation order may pick up their animals at any time. The fairgrounds manager recommends for those under a pre-evacuation notice, leave animals at the fairgrounds in case an evacuation ends up being necessary.
Lisa Bleiler and her husband packed their few dozen animals out of their Murphy Gulch home under a mandator evacuation last Tuesday in the middle of the night.
“It’s chaotic because there’s no light.’ Bleiler said. “We have three horses, two donkeys, seven goats, two dogs, three cats, reptiles, tortoises.”
Reitbeld said at one point, the fairground was hosting 265 animals, just shy of their previous record of 280.
“This is our second highest evacuation so far,” Reitbeld said. “We think it might end up being the highest by the time it’s all said and done.”
“They have been so awesome, all of this has been free, everyone is a volunteer just helping take care of one another’s animals,” Bleiler said.
Bleiler joined the group of volunteers.
“I know just what it’s like every day just with our farm, and so I was like, we have to help,” Bleiler said. “This was a miracle. There’s no way you could have possibly thought when you’re going through all that, what you’re doing to do with your animals.”