The University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center has produced a report analyzing the impact of wildfire on pets and their owners.

The Marshall Fire occurred in Boulder County, Colorado in late December 2021. It destroyed over 1,000 homes and more than 1,000 pets were estimated to have died in the fire.

The researchers interviewed pet owners who lost their pets in the fire to determine what factors prevented their pets from being rescued. They are hoping that the lessons learned from the Marshall Fire will help reduce pet casualties in the future.

Here are some key findings from the study, you can read the full report on the Natural Hazards Center’s website.

An exact count of pet deaths was impossible because many went missing during the fire and were either never found or brought to animal shelters but never claimed by their owners. Most of these lost pets are cats.

The Marshall Fire’s rapid spread to suburban homes, combined with flaws in the emergency notification system, led to some pet fatalities.

Some owners reported that they were unable to get back to their homes from work to rescue their pets because the roads were blocked.

Other owners reported that they were home at the time but were unable to locate pets (mostly cats) to take with them when they evacuated.

Members of the veterinary health community reported that there were communication problems with disaster response personnel and were unable to quickly respond to provide aid to injured animals. Many clinics were struggling with pandemic-related staffing problems, and this also complicated animal care at the time of the fire.

What are the report’s recommendations based on the Marshall Fire analysis?

Make a disaster preparedness plan for your household that includes all your pets.

Many pets were lost because the owners were at work or away from home when the fire quickly spread to populated areas.

The researchers recommend that pet owners develop plans with their neighbors to rescue each other’s pets in emergencies when the pets are home alone.

These informal arrangements can help to ensure that your pets are rescued when you are away.