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The California Report

Animal Rescue Operations Jump Into Action During LA Fires

Keith Mizuguchi
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A pig sleeps in a pen at Pasadena Humane, an animal shelter, in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 10, 2025. When wildfires spread throughout the Los Angeles region, the shelter started taking in small animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, and birds and continues to receive pets found in wildfire zones. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

Here are the morning’s top stories on Monday, January 13, 2025…

  • Crews took advantage of milder weather over the weekend to get better containment on the Palisades and Eaton fires burning in LA County. But the National Weather Service says dangerous fire conditions will return later Monday.
  • By now, most Californians are aware that animals – pets and wildlife – are also suffering because of the fires raging in Los Angeles County. Whenever a natural disaster strikes, animal rescue operations have to kick into high gear. 
  • California’s insurance commissioner has issued a one-year moratorium on homeowner insurance policy cancellations and non-renewals in areas affected by the Los Angeles fires.

LA Fire Weather Forecast Warns Of “Dangerous Situation” 

Strong Santa Ana winds and extreme weather conditions are returning this week to a Los Angeles region already reeling from the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires.

The National Weather Service warns that the region is in for “continued and persistent strong and gusty Santa Ana winds” in the coming days — with the fiercest winds between  45 mph to 70 mph from 4 a.m. on Tuesday to noon Wednesday.

The death toll in the fires has risen to 24, according to the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office.

How Pasadena Humane Mobilized To Take In Pets And Wildlife Escaping The Eaton Fire

In the days since the Eaton Fire first began, Pasadena Humane has taken in more than 400 animals, including the kinds this nonprofit usually cares for — like dogs, cats, and bunnies — but also a number of unusual kinds.

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“We had eight cockatoos come in. We’ve had goats come in. We had one family in Altadena that had a pony and they walked the pony down from Altadena to our shelter,” said Dia DuVernet, president and CEO of Pasadena Humane, an animal care center safely located miles south of the destruction.

DuVernet said the initial surge of evacuees’ pets needing immediate, short-term shelter gave way in the following days to animals brought in by animal search and rescue teams who had found animals in the   Some of the animals have the same kinds of injuries humans have when a wildfire tears through. “We’re seeing burns,” she said. “We’re seeing singed paws. We’re seeing singed whiskers. We’re seeing smoke inhalation problems. We had one dog come in that appeared to be a dark gray dog, and after we gave it a bath we realized the dog was a white dog.”

Moratorium Issued For Insurance Policy Cancellations During Wildfires

California’s insurance commissioner has issued a one-year moratorium on homeowner insurance policy cancellations and non-renewals in areas affected by the Los Angeles fires.

As the extent of damage from the firestorm comes into focus, it’s clear that an unprecedented number of people will have to recover and rebuild in the months and years ahead. “Now is the time for you to focus on your family and on your health. The last thing you should be worrying about is your insurance,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

He’s issued a directive that companies cannot cancel or not renew policies in affected areas for the next year – as he’s permitted to do by state law. Lara has also told companies to suspend any pending non-renewals and cancellations and to extend the grace period for paying bills.

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