Ava Weintraub
As the Corral fire raged in Malibu, Pierce College’s Equestrian Center was the center of large animal rescue once again, a mere five weeks after the last Malibu fire.
Volunteer horse “haulers” and the Los Angeles County Emergency Response Team (ERT) for animals brought in horses, ponies, goats, sheep, miniature donkeys and chickens.
The team functioned as a well-oiled machine, having done this many times before. Approximately 50 horses and assorted farm animals were housed in the Equine unit.
Judy Pace was checking on one of her two horses, Summer Sea Breeze, who was brought to Pierce on Saturday morning. She lives on Sea Breeze Drive in Corral Canyon, a street that was devastated by the fire. “I got a call at 4:30 a.m. from a friend who was on arson patrol and she was the first to tell me about the fire,” she said. “There were no fire trucks, just a few sheriff’s cars but that was it. My husband is home trying to save our house because there are no firefighters to help,” Pace said. She and her husband also owned a rental property four lots away that was destroyed despite being a more “fire resistant” stucco building with a red-tiled roof.
Pace said she was grateful for all of the work the County ERT and Pierce’s Equestrian Center does in creating a safe refuge for all types of animals.
According to Malibu authorities, the time of the first alarm was 3:23 a.m. Saturday, located at Corral Canyon Road and Castro Canyon. The cause is still unknown but it is suspected that human activity was involved.
The 4,901 acre fire destroyed 80 structures and damaged 45 structures. The cost to fight the fire so far is $3.1 million.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, horse haulers were preparing the seven remaining horses for the journey home.
Malibu resident Judy Pace is reunited. With her horse at the Pierce College Equestrian Center Saturday. ()