But now, citing finite resources and a dwindling roster of members, the group has decided to limit its deployments to within San Juan Capistrano city limits. At its peak, the rescue team boasted a roster of 274 members that the county could tap as a mutual aid resource during wildfires. But San Juan Capistrano’s decision to scale back now has some horse owners outside of the city concerned. “We couldn’t be cowboys out there,” said Johnson, founder and president of the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition. After the fierce 2020 fire season in Orange County, the rescue team received county recognition for its efforts.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 01, 2024 13:55 UTC