VENTURA, California – Within days, more than 400 animals were taken to Ventura County Animal Services to protect them from the raging mountain fire in Southern California.

The Mountain Fire started Wednesday morning and has burned more than 20,000 acres and destroyed more than 130 homes in Ventura County since Saturday, according to CALFire.

As the fire broke out and evacuation orders were issued, many residents worked to protect their family members — including those wearing fur and feathers.

Animal rescued from mountain fire.

(Ventura County Animal Services/FOX Weather)

On Friday evening, more than 40 dogs, 35 cats, 8 rabbits and 4 sheep were rescued from the fire, with a few strays waiting to be reunited with their owners.

A video shared by Ventura County Animal Services shows some stray animals that came from areas where the Mountain Fire was burning.

However, the majority of animals kept safely with VCAS are livestock. Randy Friedman, VCAS public information officer, said this is largely due to the Mountain Fire affecting rural areas with farmland.

“Most people don’t have a place to go if they need to evacuate, and we become kind of a destination,” he said. “So I think the majority of this is just those who need help, and we are here to help – we are public servants and we care, and we want them to have a safe place.”

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From Tuesday to Thursday, some of the livestock brought to VCAS for safekeeping included more than 150 horses, along with dozens of ducks, chickens, alpacas, pigs and emus.

Friedman said most people will take their animals to VCAS, while others will need the VCAS Volunteer Emergency Rescue Team to pick up the animals in the event of a declared emergency and then take them to their shelter at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

During the time of year when wind events occur in Santa Ana, such as this week’s, VCAS has teams ready to activate. However, the wind event that fueled the Mountain Fire was particularly challenging because of the speed of the fire, according to Friedman.

Animal rescued from mountain fire.

(Ventura County Animal Services/FOX Weather)

“It really was like a knife that cut right through our county, all the way from Moorpark to Camarillo,” he said. “It was just very, very fast, there was a lot of strong wind, and in a very short time it was upon us.”

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Once evacuation orders are lifted, animals held in VCAS shelters will be reclaimed. Friedman notes that VCAS is keeping the animals safe at no cost given the emergency.