A few weeks ago, a large fire broke out in the Washoe Valley. The Davis Fire reached nearly 6,000 acres of Davis Creek Regional Park.
The wind would have driven the flames further if not for the coordinated efforts of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, the U.S. Forest Service – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada.
A report from Washoe County stated that the intense fire destroyed 14 homes and several commercial buildings, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency.
Among the victims was a 25-year-old black bear that suffered severe burns but was thankfully rescued by courageous Nevada firefighters.
A local resident informed the fire department the moment he saw the injured bear. When the fire crew arrived, they found the bear badly burned and lying motionless.
Noticing that the bear was still alive, they contacted the Nevada Department of Wildlife, which immediately rushed to the scene.
Together, they transported the bear to the Nevada Department of Wildlife facility, where he received the necessary treatment and was affectionately named Nugget.
In an interview, the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s spokesperson discussed Nugget’s condition and treatment, referring to him as G51. He said:
“Currently the Department’s veterinarian is assessing his health and has applied bandages to G51’s third-degree burns on his paws and has administered pain medication for pain management. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is incredibly concerned for the health of the bear and don’t know G51’s mobility and the severity of the burns.”
He later explained that the Department was unsure how long the bear had been burning and was unaware of the burn severity.
Therefore, at the time of the interview, it was still too early to determine such things.
“Much like humans, it takes time to reveal how severe the burns are. The Nevada Wildlife Department is incredibly concerned with the health of G51, and we are ensuring that G51 has the proper care and that he is comfortable.”
Nugget was later transported to the Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center for further rehabilitation and continued care.
If everything goes as planned, he will soon recover and be returned to the wild in no time.
Fortunately, this huge fire didn’t claim any human lives. No civilians were injured, while only one firefighter received minor injuries.