Heartwarming Rescue: Massachusetts Firefighters Save Baby Owl After Fighting Fire in the Woods

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.

I say it time and time again but firefighters are so brave and I have the upmost respect for them. It takes a special type of person to run towards danger when everyone else is trying to flee from it.

Earlier this week fire crews in Danvers, Massachusetts, responded to a sizable fire in the wooded area behind Danvers High School. According to a Facebook post from Danvers Fire Department, access to the fire was difficult. Crews used approximately one mile of hose during the incident.

Due to nightfall and the danger posed by several burned trees beginning to fall, at approximately 9pm they made the decision to discontinue operations for the evening. The majority of the fire had been extinguished and the remaining hot spots did not pose a hazard of spreading beyond the already burned area.

When they went back the next day they found an owl lying motionless within the fire-damaged area.

Firefighters placed the owl in a box and moved it to safety. They moved the owl out of the smoke-filled environment and gave it some water.

After this the owl became much more active. Danvers Animal Control brought the owl to a local wildlife rehabilitator for examination. It was determined that this is a juvenile (baby!) Great Horned Owl that likely fell from its nest during the fire. So sad. The examination revealed that other than being a bit lethargic from all of the smoke, the owl appeared to be healthy. The owl was being returned to the area where it was found in an effort to reconnect it with its mother.

While they did not spot Mama owl, rescuers could hear an owl calling in the distance. Hopefully they are now reunited!

Wonderful job to the Danvers Fire Department. You really did everything you could to help this baby owlet and that is pretty amazing stuff.