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, California

SPONSORING PARTNER

Alley Cat Allies®

Camp Fire Recovery Efforts

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

03/15/2023 – The Fire Cats: Save Something Small: Award-winning documentary featuring locally based animal rescue groups to premiere at Yuba City Cinemark – Yahoo

02/13/2023 – The Fire Cats, A Documentary Featuring Lincoln’s FieldHaven Feline Rescue – KFBK

02/13/2023 – The Fire Cats: Documentary highlights animal rescue groups that saved hundreds of pets in 2018 Camp Fire – CBS

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

11/09/2021 – 3rd Anniversary: Looking Back at 220 Days Saving the Camp Fire Cats– FieldHaven Feline Center

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]

02/06/2019 – The Alley Cat Allies® Recovery Center: Saving Camp Fire Cats – 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

01/24/2019 – Hundreds of Flyers of Unclaimed Cats from Camp Fire at Ponderosa Elementary School – FieldHaven Feline Center

01/20/2019 – Camp Fire Recovery Center Update About AdoptionsFieldHaven 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 UpdateFieldHaven 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 ReleaseFieldHaven Feline Center [PDF]

12/15/2018 – Other Shelters Housing Camp Fire CatsFieldHaven 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 DaysFieldHaven Feline Center

12/03/2018 – California Wildfires: Camp FireAlley Cat Allies® [Video]

11/21/2018 – Alley Cat Allies Assists with CA Wildfire Response – Alley Cat Allies®

11/20/2018 – Makeshift Emergency Shelter Cares for Cats Amid the No. California Wildfire – Alley Cat Allies®

11/17/2018 – Kitten Shields His Brother Even After They Were Rescued from Wildfire, to Keep Him Safe – Love Meow

11/17/2018 – In Loving Memory of Spaz – FieldHaven Feline Center

11/15/2018 – Shelter’s First Happy Reunion! Small Miracle Renews Hope For Families During California FiresCole and Marmalade

11/14/2018 – Alley Cat Allies® Hits the Ground in Northern California as Wildfire Burns – Alley Cat Allies®

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