By Kimberly Cortez
oregonlive.com
WASCO COUNTY, Ore. — Firefighter Jennifer Colcon said her heart broke as soon as she saw it.
A member of the Polk County crew with the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Colcon had been dousing hot spots in the Rowena fire Saturday when the crew turned its attention to a flare-up along U.S. 30.
“It was very hot and very smoky to the point that we could hardly see because we had so much smoke and debris in our eyes,” Colcon said. “It was very difficult. Our eyes were running, our noses were running, and we were coughing pretty good.”
But it’s what happened next that stays with her.
As the crew began putting out the flames, a baby deer emerged from the smoke, “scared and hot,” according to Danny Koffler, another firefighter from Polk County.
The deer — covered in soot and emitting a sound that firefighters recognized as a cry for help — showed no fear or hesitation as it ran toward firefighters.
“It was so tiny, and I was like, ‘We’ve got to do something,’” Colcon said.
It’s not uncommon for firefighters to find domesticated animals while putting out fires. But encountering wildlife is rare, Koffler said. “Usually, the wildlife has a sixth sense about natural disasters like this and kind of tend to get out of the area,” he said.
After the deer ran up, Colcon and Koffler took it to the fire truck and poured water on it, both to cool it down and wash off the soot. The deer had managed to make it out of the fire without any obvious signs of injury, Koffler said.
The crew then drove the deer to a nearby forest clearing that hadn’t burned. It was still crying, but soon it started to walk away, giving the firefighters hope it would safely reunite with its family as they turned back to fighting the fire.
The Rowena fire, which started Wednesday, has burned 3,563 acres, destroying 56 homes and 91 other structures, such as sheds, barns and shops, according to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. As of Monday, it was 24% contained, officials said.
Much work remains, but finding and helping the baby deer gave the Polk County crew a morale boost, Koffler said.
“Everybody was happy to be able to help,” he said. “We were able to make a difference.”
What should you do if you find wildlife after a fire?
People who encounter a wild animal after a fire are encouraged to let it move to a suitable habitat on its own, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said. “It’s still important to leave wildlife wild, even after a fire,” said spokesperson Michelle Dennehy. “Even after a fire, don’t assume a young animal on its own is orphaned unless you saw its parent die.”
Dennehy added that people may also call a licensed wildlife rehabber if they find wounded animals or ones that are definitely orphaned. Or they may call the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 503-947-6000.
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