Wildfire evacuees face obstacles with their large animals

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Some residents forced to flee a growing inferno in Southern California faced a big obstacle getting their large animals to safety.

None may have had it harder than Eva Loeffler, who didn't have a trailer for her 20-year-old pony, Minnie.

Loeffler, of Westlake Village, says frantic equestrians were loading horses into trailers as embers rained down and she couldn't get a lift for the little equine, so she improvised.

Minnie trotted alongside Loeffler's car on a rope for more than a mile as flames jumped the road, sirens wailed from passing rescuers and helicopters buzzed overhead.

Eventually a couple with four dogs, three horses, two parrots and a pig stopped and made room in their trailer.

Loeffler says they squished Minnie inside and drove to an evacuation center.