Erudite Cuisine & Catering 2 Pages
9114 Adams Avenue, #141
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
Telephone (310) 425-4077
Fax (714) 968-9693

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wendi Menendez (310) 425-4076
Email: eruditecatering@earthlink.net

Cleanup Planned for Animal Ranch Devastated by Station Fire

Acton, CA September 10, 2009--Clean up efforts are planned for this Saturday Sept. 12th for a privately-owned animal ranch in Aliso Canyon devastated by the Station Fire that blazed through the Acton area August 31, 2009 and has burned more than 160,000 acres.

Volunteers from several Los Angeles and Orange County based businesses, including students from Moorpark College and fans of Pirates for Hire, are donating equipment and labor to help clean up at “the Ranch” as it is known, a 160 acre shared property in the Los Angeles Forest that is home to approximately 75 domestic and exotc animals. With the help and equipment donated by Partyworks and Double Dog Dare Productions, Erudite Catering will be cooking and feeding volunteers all day.

Friday afternoon August 28 the news reported the Station Fire was headed for La Canada and Flintridge. Owners of "the Ranch,” knew the fire was heading their way and that officials planned to let it burn into the forest. The trainers at “the Ranch” loaded their trailers, vans and trucks to be ready to evacuate, and even loaded the dogs prior to going to bed.

The night of Aug. 29, fire could be seen burning into the Acton area. At 3:30 am Sunday morning, the firefighters ordered preparation for mandatory evacuation over a loud speaker. Handley had already evacuated the bears, the dogs were loaded, and with the help of his girlfriend Nicole Zuehl, nearly all the remaining animals were ready to travel at anytime. They called their neighbors on the ranch and let them know it was time to load up the elephants.

They spent the next couple hours loading what they could out of the house, not really sure how much time they had. Midday the sheriffs came and ordered them to evacuate. With no time to spare, the convoy lined up in the driveway, headed down Aliso Canyon Road with all the remaining animals heading for safety. The elephants made it only as far as Acton and the dogs were taken to Working Wildlife in Frazier Park. During the drive to Frazier Park, Zuehl received a call from Scott Handley saying he and Hayden Rosenaur were in the midst of the fire with the firefighters, fighting to save what they could. Handley and Rosenaur were told to stay low on the floor of the stone house. "It was like a tornado of fire,” Handley said. Zuehl said, "As you can imagine one prays with all they've got, that all those men would make it out alive."

Meanwhile, unable to do anything else, Zuehl and the others continued taking the dogs to safety, away from the smoke and fire, and out of the 100-degree weather. 

Zuehl was thrilled to get the news that the fire had passed and all the men were safe. However, their once beautiful ranch in the forest, Zuehl now says it looks like the moon. "We were all very fortunate at “the Ranch.” Our main houses were spared and most of the animal areas made it through with little or repairable damage," she said.

Unfortunately many out buildings were lost and both they and their neighbor lost their caretakers' quarters completely and all their caretakers' belongings. “Lillian, our amazing thoughtful and loving caretaker for the dogs, lost both her vehicles," said Zuehl.

The Ranch is now without utilities including power, phone, and water, as well as, food and supplies to care for and train the animals. Zuehl says, “It is hard to know what is missing until you need it”

The owners of “the Ranch” said a landscape tools are needed for Saturday’s cleanup around the ranch. Landscaping is needed to try to stop the erosion that will come with the rains this winter.

Amongst the animals supplies lost were most of the dogs’ blankets and towels, stainless steel bowls and buckets, puppy pens, crates and toys. So much more a was lost, but these items the dogs need on a daily basis Zuehl said. They also lost two sheds that held all the supplies and fencing that went around the main yard for the dogs. Though volunteers have come forward, a professional tree trimmer is needed for this Saturday to take down the dead trees safely.

Long-term needs are for a new gate for privacy and security from the road since they are now visible to the main road. They are working on permits to build new caretakers' quarters and are in need of building supplies. Any donations of any of these items or services are appreciated.

A PayPal account on the PayPal website has been established for cash donations to rebuildingtheranch@yahoo.com, as well as at www.rebuildingtheranch.com has been established and there is a PayPal link as well. Donations by mail can be made to: PO Box 639, Acton, CA 93510.

Donations of money, food, labor, supplies, or equipment may be directed to HYPERLINK "mailto:rebuildingtheranch@yahoo.com" rebuildingtheranch@yahoo.com and to HYPERLINK "mailto:eruditecatering@earthlink.net" eruditecatering@earthlink.net for collection and transport to “the Ranch” from the Los Angeles area. Any help is greatly appreciated, as there was no insurance on the buildings or the animal equipment and supplies.