A series of wildfires in Nova Scotia has forced more than 16,000 people to evacuate their homes, leaving many dogs, cats, and horses stranded—and animal rescue groups are stepping up.

Lisa Parsons is among the residents being commended for her quick thinking and bravery. When fire erupted on Sunday afternoon, Parsons, upon encountering a road closure, ran through the brush to rescue 18 dogs boarded at Pampered Paws Inn in Hammonds Plains, N.S.

“It was an ordeal,” she tells CTV News. “It was horrific, but I had to get to the dogs.”

Community volunteer groups are collaborating with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Halifax Regional Municipality’s Animal Services to help retrieve animals that may have been separated from their owners amidst evacuations, CBC News reports.

“We’ve had so many tears,” volunteer Amy Wells tells CBC. “[The reunions] are all happy stories.”

Fire officials have advised members public to contact the Nova Scotia SPCA if they have pets who are still in the evacuation zones.