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Hannah Gansert ’21, Assists in Clean Up of local Barn after Easy Fire

Hannah Gansert ’21, had a busy week after the Easy Fire on Oct. 30th, volunteering in local cleanup efforts at Elvenstar barn in Moorpark CA.

Gansert also visited evacuated horses at Ventura County Fair Grounds each night after school to comfort and care for horses rescued from the fire. Approaching flames, thick smoke, and 60 mph wind gusts left the rescued animals nervous and frightened. For Gansert, it felt good to be a calming presence to them while they were away from home after these traumatic events.

On Wednesday morning, horses at barns located below the Ronald Reagan Library on Tierra Rejada were evacuated in rescue efforts. Saturday was a joyous reunion for many area horse lovers, including Gansert, when she and other volunteers unloaded horses from trailers as they returned from the evacuation sites. The group of volunteers bathed & scrubbed the ash laden horses, restocked barn supplies, assisted in barn repairs, and grounds cleanup efforts.

Gansert’s efforts were part of an even broader Elvenstar story over several days, which started off early Wednesday morning when the Fire Department called Elvenstar personnel warning of imminent danger to the barn which was in the direct path of the Easy fire. Approximately 100 horses were evacuated as volunteers rushed to the site to help. One of the haulers recalling her ordeal, told a VC news crew at the Fair Grounds during evacuation efforts, “It’s super bad in there” at Elvenstar, and “get the ones [horses] we can get and get out”. Fortunately, all the horses were evacuated. On Saturday, it was a very happy day for everyone as they welcomed all the horses back home.

It was an unforgettable four days for Gansert and her father, who will never forget seeing the very best in people from the trainers, local volunteers, ranch hands, trailer haulers, animal rescue volunteers, and others.
Lower School: 11052 Independence Avenue
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311  | 818.882.8121
Sierra Canyon School is a private, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 located in Chatsworth, California. The highly cosmopolitan campus community is reflective of the Greater Los Angeles area and the world at large. Students are empowered to realize their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual and physical promise through small class sizes, a diverse student-teacher culture and a family-like environment.