Tony Toso
Tony Toso’s cattle gather at a watering hold after the Detwiler Fire in Mariposa County, Calif., in 2017. During disasters, ranchers need access to their livestock to ensure they are out of harm’s way and have food and water. Growers provide firefighters with detailed access road maps, receive ID cards for use in emergencies.
When the Detwiler Fire broke out near his family s ranch in 2017, Tony Toso was home to take defensive action to protect his family and animals. The Mariposa County rancher feels fortunate that he was on site.
“We were on the front end of the fire damage and it started on a Sunday,” recalled Toso. “Had I not been home that day, it would have been very difficult for me to access my property and help keep our livestock safe. Within a matter of hours of the fire starting, the CHP had our county road closed and would not let anyone in.”