Last winter, Central Valley Fire got the call that a 1,200-lb horse had fallen into a sinkhole. The horse was reported to be in good condition, but was trapped in a hole that was 20-12 feet deep.
After they rescued a horse from a sinkhole, an operation that included a town truck and an excavation contractor, Central Valley Fire was inspired to create a specific animal rescue program. “It was a very complex rescue,” explained Central Valley Fire Battalion Chief Dylan White.
“I think that kind of exposed some gaps in our game. It was something we didn’t have a program for and something we weren’t trained for.” Almost a year after the horse rescue, Central Valley Fire partnered with Hardaway Veterinary Hospital for its first large animal rescue training.
“It seems like a high likelihood that something like this is going to happen every couple of years,” said Chief White. Horse trainer Amelie Kugin attended the first training session with Central Valley Fire.
