Twenty-seven wild horses died near Salmon Creek in the Hardtrigger herd management area, about 45 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho, when they were caught in the fast-moving Soda wildfire.

The horses were found by a team of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employees and a veterinarian who were checking the condition of two herds in the area. A gate was opened near the animals, but they were overtaken before they could escape.

“Due to the severe and erratic nature of the fire, we anticipate there will be more horses that were injured as they tried to escape the fire,” said Acting BLM District Manager Jenifer Arnold. “It’s a terrible reality for wildlife, livestock, and wild horses living on the range, to be overtaken by an intense, wind-drive range fire.”

Additionally, two horses have been euthanized because their injuries were so extensive that they could not have survived