2009 May 6 - Santa Barbara, CA
The fire came to be called the "Jesusita Fire" and eventually burned over 8,700 acres in Santa Barbara county. Among the last to receive priority were the helpless wildlife at the local Wildlife Rescue Center, including hundreds of pelicans, egrets, and other seabirds as well as other smaller wild birds who were there recovering from injuries (such as that ubiquitous 'natural' hazard known as fishhooks). We got the first frantic call in the evening and there was no time to spare.