The wildfire burning near Princeton is not only taking its toll on evacuees, but volunteers as well.
Fifteen volunteers with the Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team, a national non-profit organization, are working around the clock to rescue pets and farm animals from properties under an evacuation order.
Information Officer Ron McConnell became emotional when he spoke to Global News about his team of volunteers.
“I just want to thank everybody,” he said.
McConnell flew from Prince Edward Island to be on the ground at the animal sanctuary set up at the Princeton Exhibition Grounds.
“It is to the point where people that are being evacuated realize that we’re here, and they know that they can bring their animals somewhere safe,” he said.
While Global News visited the grounds, the crew jumped into action after receiving a call from a woman whose property was being evacuated. She had dozens of chickens that needed rescuing.
Janet Bond knows the feeling all too well.
She was forced to evacuate her home off highway 5A with her seven horses and two dogs.
Bond sought refuge at the exhibition grounds in her RV where space was provided for her beloved horses.
“They just said you can come,” she said.
Volunteers said the wildfire crept within three to five kilometres of the grounds Monday night leaving some fearful they may have had to evacuate themselves.
“We all came around the corner and the whole backside of that mountain on the left was nothing but smoke. The smoke was travelling across the back here, and it was billowing up at least a good 5,000-6,000 feet,” McConnell said.
McConnell said luckily they didn’t have to leave.
He added volunteers will continue to work around the clock to fill the gap in emergency response.
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