A relentless wildfire had made its way through Ventura County in California. And no sooner did the wildfire hit than it put the lives of the horses at major risk. But one person who has spent the larger part of her life staying close to the equines came to their rescue like a superhero without a cape. Equestrian trainer Robyn Fisher didn’t hesitate to risk her life to save horses from the blaze. As the Mountain Fire roared through Somis, Fisher and her assistant drove into the flames, rescuing horses from nearby barns engulfed in smoke. 

It all began at around 9 am last Wednesday, on November 7 in the morning. Early in the morning, a colleague’s call for help made Fisher immediately jump to save the lives of the horses. Around 9 a.m., she climbed into her truck and sped toward Balcom Canyon Road, not realizing just how intense the fire had grown. “I just got into the trailer and started driving, and I didn’t realize what I was driving into,” Fisher recounted to KTLA News. But upon her arrival, she and her assistant found the facility already consumed by flames.

They immediately realized the urgency of the situation and swiftly loaded horses into their trailer. Fighting against both time and fire, the gravity and danger of the situation kept on increasing. Heavy smoke and walls of flames flanked both sides of Bradley Road, making it nearly impossible to see. Video captured by Fisher’s assistant shows the harrowing drive back to Moorpark, where the intense heat of the fire engulfed their vehicle. 

Their attempts to escape the ground faced constant challenges from the wide-spreading fire. Sharing the experience, Fisher stated, “You couldn’t see anything. There was fire all around us. You could feel the truck completely heat up.” But the resilient team made sure that they went to the last extent to save the innocent lives of the magnificent creatures.

Fisher reflected on their terrifying escape that left the fire fading in her rearview mirror. She added, “It was probably the longest minute of my life”. The situation turned even more dangerous for another firefighter. As the driver tried to evacuate the place and started the car loaded with horses, their vehicle immediately caught fire. They were forced to unload the animals and lead them to safety on foot amid the dire situation.

After successfully transporting the first group of horses to her barn, Fisher made the difficult decision to turn back. Returning to the danger zone, she encountered more owners desperate for assistance. Horses, some tethered to trees and others being led along the road by their owners, awaited rescue. Each return trip was a chance to help more people and animals in need. But she didn’t stop. 

With over 20,000 acres scorched and hundreds of homes destroyed, the Mountain Fire continued to devastate Ventura County. Yet, amid the chaos, Fisher and her fellow equestrians’ selfless acts saved numerous lives from the raging fire. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a dressage rider, an eventer, or a western rider,” Fisher shared. “When disaster strikes, the community just reacts and gets into gear.” On the other hand, in Moorpark, another equestrian athlete also faced similar horrors. 

Wildfire gets ranch owners fleeing with dozens of horses

The Golden State did not look the same on Thursday morning as the sky suddenly began to turn gloomy. One of the heavily affected farms, the Keenridge Farms, had Olympian Hilda Gurney worried to the core. Just like a normal day at the office, the 2x Olympian was riding her horse at 6 am. However, she soon started to smell fire as the sky began to get covered with thick layers of smoke and flames. Immediately, she knew that she had to rush to her farm, which she has owned since the 1970s. 

Helping dozens of her horses to flee the inhabitable atmosphere, Gurney landed them on the evacuation stables. Feeding the terrified horses pizza and hay at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the Olympian could not help but worry about her farm. Looking at the intensity of the fire, Gurney at one point thought that her farm would be consumed by the raging fire. Luckily, the next morning, a fellow farm owner stated that Keenridge looked fairly in good shape, which was like a breath of fresh air for Gurney. 

The sudden fire has reportedly affected 20,000 acres of land and has burnt almost 12 homes. However, it is unclear if any horses have lost their lives in the fire or not. Thus, with California wrapped in a state of heat-induced mourning, it remains to be seen how fast the Golden State can get back to normalcy.