The Easy Fire that started around 6 a.m. in Moorpark today has exploded in hot, windy conditions. Ventura County Fairgrounds maxed out its large animal capacity, and evacuees and their horses are now coming to Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. Evacuees are asked to call the Santa Barbara Equine Evacuation & Assistance nonprofit at (805) 892-4484 before bringing their horses.
Rhonda Hathaway, who is vice president for the Equine Evacuation team , said owners are bringing animals from Simi Valley and Moorpark. "It's a mutual aid situation with Ventura County Animal Services," she explained, "and we just opened at Earl Warren." Already, the showgrounds at Las Positas and the 101 Highway is housing 10 horses, she said. Despite the showgrounds' financial ills , it continues to donate the space.
Some people came with their dogs, Hathaway said, and she sent them to the animal shelter at 5473 Overpass Road. The shelter hadn't had any animals brought in yet, they said. The Humane Society next door stated they were prepared to accept adoptable cats from Ventura, to make space for evacuees in the Ventura shelter, but they didn't yet know if they would come.