Herd of horses filmed fleeing Davis, Nevada wildfire

RENO, Nevada – A massive wildfire that burned nearly 6,000 acres in western Nevada forced a herd of horses to move to safer ground, and their excursion was caught on camera.

Video taken by Kristen Edgington shows the group of animals running along a road south of Reno with a plume of smoke from the Davis Fire in the distance.

“This is crazy,” Edgington is heard telling the driver of the car as dozens of horses trotted through the brush beside the roadway.

At the height of the fire, authorities said more than 700 people were assigned to the blaze, which is believed to have destroyed more than a dozen structures.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has signed a state of emergency declaration due to the impact of the Davis Fire on Washoe County residents.

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Firefighters said the combination of winds and dry terrain caused the fire to spread erratically south of Reno.

“They’re going somewhere, aren’t they? The poor babies are probably in the fire,” Edgington’s companion can be heard saying in the video.

A local tourism group estimates there are 70,000 wild horses in the Reno-Tahoe area that have adapted to eating grasses and other vegetation.

According to the latest US Drought Monitor, the entire state of Nevada is facing unusual drought conditions, with about 33% officially in drought, which can cause small plants to dry out.

During a prolonged drought, the risk of fire typically increases, keeping firefighters busy.

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At least one firefighter was injured while battling the Davis fire.

A GoFundMe page identified the firefighter as Alex Aldana, a 27-year veteran of the force.

“During the Davis Fire, Alex suffered a potentially career- and life-changing eye injury while helping protect homes in the St. James Village area. His team quickly responded and the medical support provided by the Incident Management Team quickly got him definitive care,” the GoFundMe page reads.

Organizers have already raised more than $50,000, which should help the Reno Fire Department firefighter and his family.

Investigators have not said who or what started the fire, but it is believed to have originated around a large regional park between Lake Tahoe and Reno.

Source of the original article: Herd of horses filmed fleeing Davis, Nevada wildfire