Dog refuses to leave goats amid California wildfires

A fearless goat-herding dog who refused to abandon his flock amid the deadly wildfires in California miraculously survived the flames that torched the property completely.

Roland Tembo Hendel said his family and he were shocked to see that their dog, Odin, his sister Tessa, and their eight bottle-fed goats survived the deadly Tubbs Fire that destroyed his property in Sonoma County.

He explained in a lengthy Facebook post that's gone viral how they had to leave Odin behind along with the goats after rushing to pack up their other dogs and cats to flee the fast approaching fire.

'By 11:10 we could see the first of the flames across the valley,' he wrote on his Facebook page.

Miracle: Odin, a fearless goat-herding dog who refused to abandon his flock amid the deadly wildfires in California, miraculously survived the flames that torched the property completely. Pictured above with part of the herd

Roland Tembo Hendel (above) said his family was shocked to see that their dog Odin and their eight bottle-fed goats survived the deadly Tubbs Fire that destroyed his property

Hendel said that in a matter of minutes the flames approached his property causing him to quickly gather a few items along with the family's dogs and cats. But when trying to get Odin, the dog would not abandon the eight goats

He wrote: 'Even under the best of circumstances it is nearly impossible to separate Odin from the goats after nightfall when he takes over the close watch from his sister Tessa. I made a decision to leave him, and I doubt I could have made him come with us if I tried.'

Shockingly, Odin managed to survive the fire along with protecting the goats and several baby deer. But the dog's whiskers melted, fur burned and he is limping on his right leg, Hendel said

'By 11:15 they were growing larger and the winds went mad. We had loaded up the dogs and cats, but Odin, our stubborn and fearless Great Pyrenees would not leave the goats.

'Even under the best of circumstances it is nearly impossible to separate Odin from the goats after nightfall when he takes over the close watch from his sister Tessa.

'I made a decision to leave him, and I doubt I could have made him come with us if I tried.'

The family's escape from the fire was harrowing as the blaze erupted along Mark West Springs Road.

'Cars behind us on Mark West Springs Road were pouring flames out of the windows as they roared down the road,' he wrote on Facebook.

It's unclear where Odin took the animals during the blaze or even how they managed to survive

Hendel said that when they returned to their property, 'every structure is in ruins. Trees are still burning'

Hendel explained that the shed where he kept his forestry tools was completely destroyed in the blaze (above)

'Later that morning when we had outrun the fires I cried, sure that I had sentenced Odie to death, along with our precious family of bottle-raised goats.'

The Hendel family returned to their property after the fire subsided and braced for the worst as they saw their home completely burned out.

'We were able to make it back to the smoldering wasteland of our forest,' Hendel wrote on Facebook.

'Every structure is in ruins. Trees are still burning.'

He explained that suddenly the goats appeared and raced toward the family, as Odin - whiskers melted, fur burned and limping on his right leg, followed behind.

Equipment on the property is also a total loss as everything was burned during the Tubbs firestorm

A few SUVs were torched in the dangerous blaze on the Hendel's property from the Tubbs Fire

But Hendel is more than thankful that Odin survived. He wrote: 'Odin has lived up to his namesake' in reference to the Norse god he was named after

Odin, who completely lived up to the Norse god he was named after, somehow managed to protect the goats along with several baby deer during the blaze.

'Odin has lived up to his namesake,' Hendel wrote.

'Pray for him and his charges. He is our inspiration. If he can be so fearless in this maelstrom, surely so can we.'

The family created a YouCaring fundraising page to help pay for Odin's medical care along with rebuilding.

'Our pumphouse was destroyed, and we have no fresh water supply for them,' the family's story on the page reads.

'All structures on our property were decimated, including the barn we had lovingly rebuilt for them earlier this year. And winter is coming.'

The family created a YouCaring fundraising page to help pay for Odin's medical care along with rebuilding

As of Monday evening, more than $56,000 has been raised - more than exceeding the $45,000 goal. The animals are currently being taken care of at a nearby shelter

As of Monday evening, more than $56,000 has been raised - more than exceeding the $45,000 goal.

The animals are currently being taken care of at a nearby shelter.

Firefighters began gaining ground on wildfires that killed at least 40 people in the past week, the deadliest blazes in California's history, as winds eased and searchers combed charred ruins for more victims with hundreds still missing.

Two of the three most destructive Northern California fires were more than half contained early on Monday, and some residents who fled the flames in hard-hit Sonoma County could be allowed to return home later in the day, officials said.

More than 5,700 structures were destroyed by more than a dozen wildfires that ignited a week ago and consumed an area larger than New York City. Entire neighborhoods in the city of Santa Rosa were reduced to ashes.

Firefighters began gaining ground on wildfires that killed at least 40 people in the past week, the deadliest blazes in California's history, as winds eased and searchers combed charred ruins for more victims with hundreds still missing

Firefighters gained control of two of the deadliest fires in wine country's Napa and Sonoma counties: The Tubbs fire (above on Sunday) was 60 percent contained and the Atlas fire 65 percent contained, Cal Fire said. Nearly half of the Redwood Valley fire, which alone is responsible for eight deaths in Mendocino County, was extinguished by late Sunday

'Overall, things are feeling optimistic. We're very cautious about that,' said Brad Gouvea, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection incident commander. 'You'd never know it's the middle of October in Sonoma County and have fire behavior like this.'

Firefighters gained control of two of the deadliest fires in wine country's Napa and Sonoma counties: The Tubbs fire was 60 percent contained and the Atlas fire 65 percent contained, Cal Fire said. Nearly half of the Redwood Valley fire, which alone is responsible for eight deaths in Mendocino County, was extinguished by late Sunday.

The 40 confirmed fatalities make the fires California's deadliest since record-keeping began, surpassing the 29 deaths from the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles.

At least a dozen Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries were damaged or destroyed, throwing the state's wine industry and related tourism into disarray.