As the Gifford Fire continues to burn across the Central Coast, the Santa Maria Elks Event Center has taken on a new role. What's normally a site for rodeos, parades, and community celebrations has now become a lifeline for farm animals evacuated from fire zones.

Tina Tonascia, Elks Recreation Inc. Chief Operations Officer, said the facility's role in emergency response has been years in the making.

“So we’ve been a part of the program with Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter and Office of Emergency Operations for years,” Tonascia said. “Our property is available at a moment’s notice for not only the fire folks, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, but also working with the animal services directors here in our area that we open up the property should there be any kind of emergency situation l

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