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Dee Dee Friedrich, 2013 Citizen of the Year
Dee Dee was honored by the City of Yorba Linda in 2013 for her heroic acts in saving
large animals during the Freeway Complex Fire. Friedrich has been a member of the Yorba Linda Country Riders since 1989 and has served as president since 2006.
She has served on the Large Animal Rescue Team since 2009.
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On Saturday, November 15, 2008, Dee Dee personally rescued, and organized others to rescue, animals who were in the path of the fast-moving Freeway Complex Fire (FCF). Some animal owners could not reach home to rescue their animals or fled for their lives as the fire closed in.
With very little time to spare, Friedrich and her husband, Pete, roped squealing pigs and guided frightened horses into trailers. Risking their own personal safety with fire behind them and on both sides of the road, Dee Dee and Pete rescued numerous animals. Thankfully none were lost.
The FCF was an eye-opener in many respects including the realization that there was no plan to rescue large animals. in 2009, Friedrich joined the Large Animal Rescue Team (LART). Since that time Friedrich, and trained volunteers, have evacuated horses and livestock from wildfires all over the county.
Now, with reduced resources and only 50 active members, LART is limiting deployments to within the San Juan Capistrano city limits. That decision leaves large animal owners, throughout the county and Yorba Linda, to fend for themselves.
Many move to Yorba Linda for over 100 miles of trails, large lots for animals and open space but the downside is that our city is borders a Wildland-Urban Interface. As vegetation grows and provides increased fuel, large fires such as the FCF are expected every 10 years. The next big fire could occur on a weekday when many are at work and far away from their homes and animals.
We have gone full circle and Yorba Linda is again without a plan!
For more information, contact Dee Dee Friedrich at: d2bridn@aol.com
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ABC7 Spotlight with Dee Dee Friedrich
Volunteer program leading horse rescues across Orange County to downsize this year
https://abc7.com/pets-animals/volunteer-group-leading-horse-rescues-in-oc-to-downsize-this-year/14262369/
Who Will Save Horses in Orange County During Next Wildfire?
https://www.govtech.com/em/who-will-save-horses-in-orange-county-during-next-wildfire
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