People Drove 3 Hours Into Wildfire To Save These Rats

The lab where they lived was evacuated — and they had nowhere else to go.

In the wake of wildfires racing through California, kind people keep proving that even the smallest of lives are worth saving.

On Tuesday, Gina Lynn, founder of New Life Animal Sanctuary, got a call from a university laboratory that was under mandatory evacuation due to the fire. The lab uses rats in psychology research — and they had 27 of them who needed to be evacuated, too.

california fire
New Life Animal Sanctuary

Specializing in lab animal rescues, Lynn and three volunteers sprung into action without question — despite the three-hour trip leading them into the path of the flames.

The rescuers started driving. As they neared the arranged pickup spot in northern Los Angeles, the bright red blaze could be seen looming over the mountains.

Luckily, the rats were safely waiting with a lab employee, who passed them off to the group when they arrived.

california fire rats rescue
New Life Animal Sanctuary

On the way back, the group made a pit stop at a nearby vegan restaurant, where employees brought out some greens and fruit for the rats to snack on for the rest of the road trip.

The rats didn’t seem too worried about the whole ordeal — but Lynn and her team couldn’t have been happier that they got the call to save them.

“All 27 boys are safe and we’re glad to welcome them into our sanctuary family,” Lynn said.

california fires lab rat rescue
New Life Animal Sanctuary

Now that they’re at the sanctuary, it hasn’t taken long for the 27 little guys to settle in.

california fire rescue rats
New Life Animal Sanctuary

“They are loving having houses, hammocks, treats and toys!” Lynn said. “And plenty of room to explore.”

Since this was an emergency rescue, Lynn said, the sanctuary hopes that they’ll be able to find forever homes for some of the rats — as there are always a lot more coming in.

california fire lab rat rescue
New Life Animal Sanctuary

“We may be getting 50 more from another lab next week, so we are eager to adopt out,” Lynn said. “We have a good relationship with a pilot who has flown rats to new homes in the Bay Area and Las Vegas multiple times, so prospective adopters need not be in SoCal!”

Interested in adopting one of the rats? Email New Life Animal Sanctuary. You can also sponsor them to support their monthly care.