California Firefighters Rescue Baby Fawn From Grass Fire
The rescue group named him "Smokey."
— -- California firefighters rescued more than just homes from a grass fire.
A two-week-old fawn got caught in a fence, trying to get away from a vegetation fire in Cameron Park, California on Friday, fire chief Dave Roberts told ABC News today.
An El Dorado Hills firefighter stepped in and pulled the little guy –- now aptly named “Smokey” -- out of danger.
“One of our firefighters noticed the little guy stuck in some wire fencing. We’re guessing he tried to jump the fence to follow his mother,” Roberts said.
“He was really weak and lethargic so we kept trying to cool him down with water. He started to finally get his energy back,” he added.
Smokey is still recovering at the Sierra Wildlife Rescue, where he’s being fed and given medication.
“We’ve got him here where he’s safe. If he were to recover exceptionally quickly within the next couple of days, there’s a possibility of taking him back where he was found and reuniting him with his mom,” Dave Cook told ABC affiliate KXTV.
Cook – who did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for additional comment -- added that Smokey’s worst injury seemed to be smoke inhalation from Friday afternoon’s fire, along with a swollen foot .
The grass fire burned 4-acres of vegetation and came close to burning homes in the Cameron Park Estates neighborhood. Roberts said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“They’re taking Smokey back to the burn area this week,” Roberts said. “If they can’t reunite him with his mother, they’ll keep him until he’s four or five months old and then release him into the wild.”