Hero Rescues 60+ Animals from BC Wildfire Zones

Nowlin Kazimir got a call from a crying friend whose 13 horses stood in the direct path of flames on British Columbia's Westside Road. He couldn't just sit at home and wait.

Within hours, Kazimir organized rescue teams and secured permits to enter evacuation zones during the devastating Bradley Creek wildfire. His mission: save the animals families were forced to abandon when they fled for their lives.

Devyn McMillan had less than five minutes to evacuate when fire reached her property. Her youngest daughter couldn't even grab shoes as flames consumed the field next door. McMillan turned her horses loose and ran, hoping they'd survive.

The wildfire destroyed everything McMillan owned. Her home, her shop, her livelihood disappeared in smoke. But Kazimir made sure her 13 horses, cat, and pig all made it out alive.

Over the course of the fires, Kazimir and his small team rescued 32 horses, 17 goats, six sheep, multiple cats and dogs, and one very special pig. The calls for help kept flooding in from Westside, Summerland's Bald Range wildfire, Logan Lake, and Merritt.

"We just got slammed," Kazimir said after days with barely any sleep. His phone hasn't stopped ringing with desperate pleas from evacuees worried about their animals.

Among the survivors is Jelly Bean, a pig who suffered burns in the flames. Kazimir has been personally caring for her recovery, with Lumby IDA Pharmacy donating medication and friends bringing food. Despite her injuries, Jelly Bean is healing well.

"It's a miracle she made it out," Kazimir said. The Forever Home Sanctuary and other facilities are housing the rescued animals until families can reclaim them.

Sunny's Take

Kazimir makes it clear this wasn't a solo operation. He organized the rescues and obtained permits, but larger operations required help from a growing network of volunteers. When disaster strikes, people who don't even know each other band together to save lives, whether two-legged or four.

These animals represent more than property to families who lost everything else. They're companions, livelihoods, and reminders that even in the midst of devastating loss, compassion shows up.