Care for AWARE's Ambassador Animals

Our center has been located at the foot of Arabia Mountain since we opened our doors in 2006. The mountain is an incredible place to visit - a unique natural gem, far more accessible than any similar natural spot in Atlanta, and home to multiple endangered species including our famous diamorpha plants. (We have free animal programs every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm, all year long - come visit and hike the mountain while you're here!)

Among other benefits, being at Arabia Mountain means we are ensconced within 2,500 acres of protected forest. It's a wonderful environment for our patients and volunteers alike. But this year, it has been a summer of extreme temperature (we set a new record temperature for October 2 today, breaking the old one by six degrees) and drought (we've had a total of three inches of rain all summer - less than a quarter of the historical average). As a result, the grasses and trees on the mountain are dried out to a historic degree.

Twice in September, those conditions resulted in a terrifying outcome: fire.

On the afternoon of September 17, a forest fire broke out in a remote section of the Arabia Mountain park, about a mile from our center. Firefighters from DeKalb County and the Georgia Forestry Commission worked furiously to put it out, using planes and helicopters to drop water, but it burned about five acres before they could get it under control. The picture above was taken by Arabia Mountain's Ranger Robby Astrove on the edge of the fire that day. 

Then last Friday night, less than two weeks later, I was picking my wife, Nan, up after a gig at the Fox Theater when I got a text that sent my heart plummeting.

We headed directly for AWARE, hoping against hope that our animals and our center were safe. When we arrived, the road in front of our center was closed, but we saw the car of AWARE's Director of Animal Care, Marjan Ghadrdan, so we pulled off to the side of the road, parked next to her, and made our way forward on foot.

As we approached the center, we could see a fire engine extending some 75' in the air to pump water onto the fire. In the picture below, the center is visible at right, and the arm carrying 1,000 gallons per minute is extending over the fire to the left.

Much to our relief, the firefighters told us that they believed the fire was contained, but warned that it was not out, and could spark up again at any time. They gave us permission to scramble around our outdoor enclosures to bring as many ambassadors as possible inside. Nan (who serves as a volunteer ambassador handler on Mondays) and Marjan grabbed flashlights and went to work.

For the next several hours, the firefighters continued to work, cutting down burnt trees, removing brush to create a fire break, and soaking everything in sight to keep the flames from returning. Above, two DeKalb firefighters observe the water pouring down.

When the sun rose, the fire's intensity was clear. It hadn't covered a large amount of space, but where it burned, the heat and flame had turned trees and brush into charcoal and ash. 

Scariest of all, we got a good look at just how close the fire came to harming our animals. The green wall in the background is the side of the enclosure that houses Owlscar the Grouch, our beloved great-horned owl ambassador. The scorched earth in the foreground, not more than 10 yards from Owlscar's home, is the closest the fire got.

Obviously, we are grateful beyond measure for the quick and thorough response from DeKalb County's Fire Department. Had their effort been lacking in any way, it appears certain we would have lost multiple ambassadors to the fire, if not the entire center. And it also serves as a reminder to thank each of you who have supported our work, either by attending an event, volunteering, or donating. Imagining a world without AWARE is all the reason in the world to be thankful for what you have helped build.