Rottweiler Puppies, Mother Saved From NorCal Wildfire

CHICO, CA — Four Rottweiler puppies and their mother are safe and sound after a search and rescue team went above and beyond to rescue them from one of the biggest wildfires in California history.

The Park Fire ignited last week in Chico and has burned nearly 384,000 acres, quickly becoming the Golden State's fifth largest on record. According to Cal Fire, thousands of residents have been evacuated in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties, and at least 192 structures were destroyed with more damaged by Tuesday.

Investigators allege the fire was the result of arson after a man pushed a burning car down an embankment near a park in Chico.

As thousands fled their homes, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said one resident's truck broke down, forcing them to leave the vehicle behind with two adult Rotweillers and four puppies as the flames approached. Officials said the owner called in the truck's general location, but first responders could not immediately access the area due to the fire.

On Saturday, Butte County search and rescue member Trevor Skaggs boarded a helicopter piloted by Conner Smith. The team landed at a helipad near a remote forest road where the truck was believed to be.

According to the East Bay Times, Skaggs tapped into his ultra-marathon training and ran 1.5 miles, descending 1,000 feet, before he found the truck in a clearing by the road surrounded by burnt vegetation. Skaggs, who has been labeled as "tenderhearted" on the Butte County Fires, Accidents, Crimes Facebook page, discovered the mother and three puppies lying in the dirt by the truck, while the father and another pup were inside. The Times reported the father did not survive — and likely died from dehydration — but the fourth puppy was alive.

The sheriff's office said the mother and her puppies were tired and thirsty, and Skaggs gave them water and some bites of a protein bar, then convinced the dogs to follow him back to the helicopter.

The rescuers flew the family of five to the Chico Airport, where the North Balley Animal Disaster Group was waiting to help.