Montecito firefighters rescued an unexpected resident in need of help on Tuesday: a fox stuck in a chain-link fence.
Crews responded to the 800 block of East Mountain Drive at around 8:30 a.m. for a report of a fox in trouble, according to Fire District spokesperson Christina Atchison.
Firefighter Charles Spencer “held the fox steady” and firefighter-paramedic Shaun Whilt “carefully snipped the fence” to free the fox, she said.
“The fox was safely released back into its natural habitat,” Atchison said.
“We’re glad we could help this furry little community member get out of a tight spot and back where it belongs.”
Montecito resident Paul Rooney told Noozhawk he was walking his dog, Angel, along Cold Springs Trail around 8 a.m. when he spotted the animal.
He didn’t have a cell phone on him, so he went home and called the Montecito Fire Department, he said.
“I couldn’t just not do nothing,” he said. “(The firefighters) are unbelievable — not only for fire, but for things like this. If nobody noticed (the fox), I don’t think it would’ve survived.”
