FIRE DEVASTATED ZINGER RANCH
About 85 birds died, but the remainder of the animals at the sanctuary, and a house, survived
Nearly two years ago Missy and Steve Benzinger and their son Zack traded their Walnut Creek digs for a home in rural Vacaville, where they created a sanctuary for animals in need.
In August, hoping to celebrate everything coming together, they set up chairs in the “lower animal area,” where they would gather near the chicken coops.
A week later, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire literally burned their plans to the ground.
“They just vanished in the fire,” Missy explained.
The family had seen the flames on the ridge, but it was miles and miles away, Steve remembered. Still, they prepared for possible flight.
After a call from a neighbor, they packed Zack, their dogs and cats into their vehicles, opened up the gates to all the pens and took off for
a friend’s. Following a bout of rest, Missy learned that the house was still standing and went, alone, to check it out .
“She snuck out and left me with the kid and the cats and dogs so I couldn’t leave,” emphasized Steve.
Missy shrugged, saying she was anxious to get home and see the status of their animals. When she saw her steers, Angus and Dexter, waiting for her, she finally let herself be emotional.
“I hadn’t cried yet,” she recalled. “I called him (Steve) and that’s when I finally cried.”
She loved on the pair with the soulful eyes and continued to check around the property. Flames had come within inches of the upper area, but the animals were safe. Dozens of chickens in the lower area, however, died, and those deaths weigh heavily on her.
“That was hard. That was devastating,” she said.
On a recent day, an assortment of goats, sheep and donkeys grazed happily where the lower coops once existed. Several, Missy said, had been treated for smoke inhalation.
As the air quality continued to degenerate, the goats sneezed and coughed but were otherwise fine, eyeing visitors from their perch up on a hillside.
Rainwater barrels had melted and well water was used up battling the blazes. An array of firefighters and other helped keep the flames away from their house.
“There’s no way we could’ve done it without (everyone),” she said. “They were so amazing.”
Steve pointed out that all the animals had munched most of the grass and weeds on the property, which is likely why the flames stopped where they did.
Since the fires, the family’s been busy clearing debris, putting out frequent flare-ups, some only visible at night, and trying to get back to normal, whatever that is.
Zack has started the fifth grade via Zoom, and Steve celebrated a birthday this week.
“I still feel really lucky to live here,” he said, pointing to the wild expanse of land, the majestic eagles flying overhead. Missy agreed.
“It could be worse,” she said, thinking of all the friends and neighbors who lost so much more. “I feel so lucky.”
Future plans include rebuilding, and gaining nonprofit status for their sanctuary. Right now, they’re self-funded and friends and volunteers are coming out of the woodwork to help.
If you’d like to donate, a GoFundMe has been established at https://gf.me/u/ yu33n4.
Western Ranch has a tab for donations for the animals’ feed.
An Amazon wish list can be viewed at https://www. amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ ls/1PTZ8LJCD36VM?ref, and a Venmo account has been set up under Missy Benzinger.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ zingerranch or www.instagram.com/zingerranch.