Camp Fire Recovery
Project Overview
The Camp Fire is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history and the deadliest in the United States in 100 years. The town of Paradise, California was essentially destroyed and other nearby communities heavily damaged. Within the first few weeks after the fire, over 2,000 dogs and cats were rescued but there are hundreds of cats still in the fire zone needing rescue.
FieldHaven operated an emergency evacuation and rescue center for 23 days beginning the day of the fire. During that time, about 100 cats were cared for as well as other “critters” including birds, rabbits, chickens and reptiles.
Camp Fire Recovery Efforts
- Fostering for fire victims who can’t have their cats with them until their living situation stabilizes
- Providing rehoming services for victims who unfortunately have to surrender their cats due to hardship
- Providing veterinary care for any Camp Fire cats in our foster and adoption programs
- Searching and trapping cats still in the fire zone. Owners are requesting the help of our expert trapping teams to locate and rescue their beloved kitties who lives are still at risk.
Be sure to see the award-winning documentary, The Fire Cats: Save Something Small.
Start Date
November 2018
Status
Completed (last cat adopted 12/07/2019)
Location
Paradise, CA
Partner(s)
Locations
Alley Cat Allies® Recovery Center
Reuniting Fire Cats with Families
he Alley Cat Allies® Recovery Center was where folks looking for their displaced cats went in order to reunite with their feline friends. It served as a holding area while matchers continued to try to reunite families. Some cats went into foster homes if they were too stressed at the center. Upon arriving at the center, cats received medical care and an exam (if deemed necessary), vaccinations, flea treatment, de-worming, and a microchip. The center closed in early 2019. It was located at 620 Ninth Street, Marysville, California.
The Transfer Station
Assessing the Situation
Trappers brought cats in from the fire zone to the Transfer Station. From there, they would be assessed and added to our website and Facebook page. In one to three days, our transfer team would take them to the Alley Cat Allies® Recovery Center for medical intake and continued reunion efforts. Ferals were altered, ear-tipped, and microchipped, then released back to their feeding station area. It served as a place for immediate intake and sheltering upon being rescued. The Transfer Station closed in early 2019 and was located at 5399 Clark Road, Paradise, California.
FieldHaven Feline Center Shelter
Continuing the Search
Cats who needed medical care beyond what we were able to offer at the Alley Cat Allies® Recovery Center were transferred to our main shelter in Lincoln, California. It was also where we relocated cats who had been at the Alley Cat Allies® Recovery Center for at least 30 days. At the shelter, we continued searching for these kitties’ families, but realized they might never be reunited. FieldHaven Feline Center is open Monday through Saturday and is located at 2754 Ironwood Lane, Lincoln, California.
Adoption Partners
Finding New Homes
Cats who were left unclaimed eventually needed to move and find new families. We have great adoption parters, such as the Nevada Humane Society, the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, and the San Francisco SPCA, who helped us find new homes for our unclaimed Camp Fire kitties.
News & Media
2023
02/13/2023 – The Fire Cats, A Documentary Featuring Lincoln’s FieldHaven Feline Rescue – KFBK
2022
08/01/2022 – The Fire Cats Documentary Tells Stories of Heroic Cat Rescuers – Cole & Marmalade
08/01/2022 – Press Release: The Fire Cats – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
2021
2019
10/07/2019 – The Eyes of a Demon – FieldHaven Feline Center
07/08/2019 – Camp Fire Cats are Available for Adoption – KFBK
07/04/2019 – Camp Fire Cats Looking for Adoption – Chico News & Review [PDF]
06/27/2019 – Camp Fire Reunion: Dorian Grey – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
06/18/2019 – Camp Fire Reunion: Milo – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
06/04/2019 – 210 Days – FieldHaven Feline Center
05/29/2019 – Resistance is Futile – FieldHaven Feline Center
05/22/2019 – Camp Fire Cat Survivors are Looking for Love – FieldHaven Feline Center
05/10/2019 – Six Months of Camp Fire Recovery Efforts – FieldHaven Feline Center
05/08/2019 – Six Months After Camp Fire – KCRA
05/08/2019 – Still More Camp Fire Reunions – ABC 10
05/06/2019 – Press Release – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
05/02/2019 – Dusty the Camp Fire Cat Hits the Road– FieldHaven Feline Center
04/26/2019 – Sweet Clara Helps Her New Family Heal – FieldHaven Feline Center
04/17/2019 – Rodent Rangers to the Rescue! – FieldHaven Feline Center
04/03/2019 – 495 Cats in 146 Days – FieldHaven Feline Center
03/28/2019 – Camp Fire Cats Adjust at a Real Camp: Camp Joe Willie– FieldHaven Feline Center
03/27/2019 – A Trip to Remove Both Kibbles and Bits – FieldHaven Feline Center
03/21/2019 – Paradise Cat Rescue: The Camp Fire – KCRA
03/19/2019 – Dexter Survives Flames to Find Family – FieldHaven Feline Center
03/08/2019 – 102 Days Later: Cat Lost in Camp Fire Reunites with Family in Missouri – ABC 10
03/08/2019 – Family Reunites with Cat Lost in Camp Fire, Flies Rescuer to Missouri for Reunion – CBS
03/06/2019 – Cat Found 102 Days After the Camp Fire – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
03/05/2019 – Camp Fire Reunions Warm Our Hearts – FieldHaven Feline Center
03/05/2019 – Camp Fire Cats and the Rodent Ranger Program – FieldHaven Feline Center
02/28/2019 – Hunter’s Story – Paradise California – Alley Cat Allies® [Video]
02/20/2019 – 102 Days in the Fire Zone: Dexter – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
02/19/2019 – New Larger Transfer Station Opens in Paradise – FieldHaven Feline Center
02/14/2019 – Unclaimed Cats from Camp Fire – Cap Radio
02/11/2019 – Press Release – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
02/10/2019 – Camp Fire Reunion: Mr. Fritz – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
02/06/2019 – Looking for Your Cat After the Camp Fire? – Alley Cat Allies® [Video]
02/04/2019 – Press Release – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
02/03/2019 – Adoptable Camp Fire Cats – FieldHaven Feline Center
02/01/2019 – Helping Our Fire Cats – FieldHaven Feline Center
01/20/2019 – Camp Fire Recovery Center Update About Adoptions – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
01/19/2019 – Dispelling Camp Fire Misconceptions – FieldHaven Feline Center
01/11/2019 – Thousands of Cats Still Displaced from Camp Fire – Action News Now
01/08/2019 – Uncle Champy Wants YOU to Volunteer at the Recovery Center – FieldHaven Feline Center
01/04/2019 – Camp Fire Cat: Merry Christmas with CF141 – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
01/05/2019 – Opening the Camp Fire Recovery Center – FieldHaven Feline Center
01/04/2019 – Camp Fire Recovery Center Update – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
01/04/2019 – Camp Fire Reunion: Miss Kitty and John – FieldHaven Feline Center [Video]
2018
12/28/2018 – KVMR Interview – KVMR
12/20/2018 – Press Release – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
12/15/2018 – Other Shelters Housing Camp Fire Cats – FieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]
12/09/2018 – DYC Goes Home – FieldHaven Feline Center
12/06/2018 – Camp Fire Kittens Phoenix and Ash Available for Adoption – FieldHaven Feline Center
12/03/2018 – 23 Days – FieldHaven Feline Center
12/03/2018 – California Wildfires: Camp Fire – Alley Cat Allies® [Video]
11/21/2018 – Alley Cat Allies Assists with CA Wildfire Response – Alley Cat Allies®
11/17/2018 – In Loving Memory of Spaz – FieldHaven Feline Center
11/13/2018 – Camp Fire Evacuation Center – Day Five– FieldHaven Feline Center
11/12/2018 – Camp Fire Evacuation Center – Day Four – FieldHaven Feline Center
11/11/2018 – Camp Fire Evacuation Center – Day Three – FieldHaven Feline Center
11/10/2018 – Camp Fire Evacuation Center – Day Two – FieldHaven Feline Center
11/09/2018 – Camp Fire Evacuation Center – Day One – FieldHaven Feline Center