Without fanfare, a group of women from 91原创 and Maple Ridge have been hauling hay and other supplies into towns that have been evacuated due the wildfires, and rescuing horses in the process.

91原创 resident, Sheryl Luker-McLelland is one of those 鈥榗razy cowgirls,鈥� who has made at least seven trips to various regions, including Loon Lake, Princeton, Kamloops and 100 Mile House, hauling hay and pellets and trailering out horses, even reuniting a pair of horses that had become separated when the Cache Creek evacuation order came down.

鈥淚鈥檓 self-employed, so I could just go and do this,鈥� said Luker-McLelland.

鈥淧eople in the horse industry stick together. I just know that once you get up to these places and see the need you don鈥檛 want to leave. You cry a bit and you keep going.鈥�

On Wednesday, she made a quick stop in 91原创 where E&H Hitch re-aligned her hitch for free, before she was off again 鈥攖his time to Ashcroft 鈥� hauling a trailer filled with hay and medical supplies.

Later that day, she was back on the road, driving through the Fraser Canyon to Ashcroft, to bring donated medical supplies fortwo horses that had their hooves burned in the fire, she said.

The group, which includes around nine haulers, was started by 鈥淎manda鈥檚 Amazing Haulers鈥� out of Maple Ridge. They have contacted members of the local horse community, asking for donations to bring to areas in distress.

The response has mainly been amazing, she said. Farmer Christina Campbell donated 70 bales of hay. The 91原创 Riders were headed up to help as well, she said.

Luker-McLelland hauled the hay up to Barriere where more than 20 evacuated horses were being kept. When she arrived, there were only 10 bales of hay to share among the horses. She dropped off 60 more.

The need is great, she said.

鈥淢y phone doesn鈥檛 stop pinging with people looking for help.鈥�

Having already burned $1,200 in fuel to get around, the 91原创 horsewoman has had a lot of crazy adventures, including driving highways where ash fell like rain.

鈥淚 got a police escort at Loon Lake,鈥� said Luker-McLelland. 鈥淭he fire was right beside the road.鈥�

It hasn鈥檛 been just horses the group has rescued, she said.

鈥淥ne of our group rescued a little potbelly pig that was left behind in the evacuation. The pig, we named Wilber, was brought to Prince George.鈥�

Luker-McLelland has been to Princeton, Kamloops, 100 Mile and Cache Creek, Loon Lake, with her co-pilots always by her side.

鈥淢y dogs, Jewels, Dolly and Nugget, are great helpers,鈥� she said.

She said they are going to keep helping as long as help is needed. Asked what the group needs, Luker-McLelland replied, gas cards.