CARRET has successfully responded to and evacuated animals from numerous fires each year, with some of the most notable efforts highlighted below.
During the Valley Fire in 2020, as conditions intensified and fire spread rapidly, CARRET successfully evacuated more than 300 animals, including alpacas, emus, donkeys, horses, pigs, and various types of fowl.
In September 2022, CARRET responded to the Fairview Fire near Hemet—a 28,000-acre blaze—evacuating over 500 animals. The team is especially grateful to Bob Brown of California Ranch Company (CRC) in Temecula for generously providing temporary shelter for displaced animals.
In 2024, CARRET mobilized on both the Orange County and Riverside County fronts during the Bridge and Airport Fires, continuing its commitment to rapid and coordinated response.
By 2025, CARRET expanded its reach north into Los Angeles County, deploying volunteers to assist during the devastating Palisades/Eaton Fire. In recognition of their lifesaving efforts, CARRET was honored with a donation at the Young Entertainer’s Awards that same year.
For more than 20 years, CARRET volunteers have been on the front lines, evacuating horses and livestock during wildfires and disasters across Southern California. Their efforts span major incidents such as the Cedar Fire (2003), Witch Fire (2007), and Apple Fire (2020), serving communities throughout Riverside, Temecula, and San Diego County.
Early CARRET members operated under the group name ELERT. When that group disbanded, the volunteers reorganized in 2020 to form CARRET, which later became an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. According to President Jacqui Grande, the transition to a charitable organization was driven by a desire to support field volunteers—particularly by helping offset the high fuel costs required to operate large rescue vehicles. Today, CARRET relies on community donations to keep its rigs fueled and equipped for emergency response.
Early CARRET members operated under the group name ELERT. When that group disbanded, the volunteers reorganized in 2020 to form CARRET, which later became an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. According to President Jacqui Grande, the transition to a charitable organization was driven by a desire to support field volunteers—particularly by helping offset the high fuel costs required to operate large rescue vehicles. Today, CARRET relies on community donations to keep its rigs fueled and equipped for emergency response.
Over the years, CARRET has grown into a network of more than 150 active members. These dedicated individuals contribute both in the field—serving as “Boots on the Ground” (BOGs)—and behind the scenes, supporting dispatch, mapping, road closures, fundraising, event planning, and administration. CARRET believes that, together, we can save animal lives during wildfires. Donations directly support the supplies, training, and fuel needed to keep volunteers moving when it matters most. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all contributions are tax-deductible—please consider supporting our mission.