Nevada Firefighters Rush Into Wildfire To Save A Bear No One Thought Would Survive
Not so long ago, a devastating wildfire broke out in the Washoe Valley. Known as the Davis Fire, the blaze consumed nearly 6,000 acres of Davis Creek Regional Park.
Fueled by strong winds, the flames threatened to spread even further until firefighting crews joined forces to stop it.
Credit: Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District
The coordinated efforts of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, the U.S. Forest Service – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada, were crucial in preventing the destruction from becoming even worse.
Still, the fire left behind heartbreaking damage.
Credit: Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District
According to Washoe County officials, 14 homes and several commercial buildings were destroyed, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency.
Yet even in the middle of such tragedy, a story of resilience and compassion emerged—this time involving a 25-year-old black bear.
Amid the smoldering aftermath, a local resident spotted the badly burned bear lying motionless and alerted the fire department.
Credit: Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District
When firefighters arrived, they found the animal alive but in critical condition, his fur scorched and his paws badly burned. Despite his suffering, the crew refused to leave him behind.
They quickly contacted the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), who rushed to the scene.
Together, the teams carefully transported the bear to the NDOW facility for emergency treatment. The staff affectionately named him Nugget, though officially he was identified as G51.
In an interview, an NDOW spokesperson described Nugget’s initial condition:
“Currently the Department’s veterinarian is assessing his health and has applied bandages to G51’s third-degree burns on his paws and has administered pain medication for pain management. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is incredibly concerned for the health of the bear and don’t know G51’s mobility and the severity of the burns.”
Credit: Nevada Department of Wildlife
The spokesperson explained that, much like in humans, the true extent of burn injuries takes time to reveal. While Nugget was stable, it was still too early to determine his long-term outcome.
“Much like humans, it takes time to reveal how severe the burns are. The Nevada Wildlife Department is incredibly concerned with the health of G51, and we are ensuring that G51 has the proper care and that he is comfortable.”
After his initial treatment, Nugget was transported to Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center, where he received specialized rehabilitation.
Credit: Nevada Department of Wildlife
There, he was being monitored closely, kept comfortable, and given every chance to heal.
While the Davis Fire caused devastating losses for the community, there is relief in knowing that no human lives were lost.
Nugget’s story serves as a reminder of the compassion and bravery of both local residents and first responders. In the face of disaster, they not only fought to protect homes and families but also gave an injured wild bear a chance to fight for his life.
