Cattle ranchers save herd during Dollar Ridge Fire

DUCHESNE COUNTY — For as beautiful as they are, not even country dirt roads can slow down bad news.

“When I heard the fire went right through them, I wondered what I was going to find when I get up there,” said Henry Remund, who is a rancher in Duchesne.

Remund is talking about his cattle.

He had about 200 of them grazing right where the Dollar Ridge Fire is burning in Duchesne County.

“I don’t think I would have got them out myself. I needed the help,” said Remund.

And boy did he get help.

About half of his herd is back at his Duchesne ranch now because close to 40 friends, neighbors and even fellow ranchers helped him at 2 a.m. Tuesday to get the cows out.

“When people are in crisis, everyone steps up,” said Ken Moon, who is also a rancher in the area.

Moon is one of those ranchers who helped because there was no way he was going to leave his friend alone.

“You don’t do that. That’s just the way we are out here,” said Moon. “You step up and you do what you have to do no matter what.”

It seems that’s what everyone in Duchesne is doing — helping.

“These friends here are family,” said Paul Lawson while sitting at the Red Cross evacuation center set up at Duchesne High School.

Lawson is one of those who met with Gov. Gary Herbert Tuesday afternoon, wondering if his home was going to make it.

“My kids, I got three daughters, and, I’m sorry,” said Lawson as he started to get tears in his eyes. “They worry about dad, dad you got to come home. I am home.”

For many residents here, they just can’t easily leave. This is where their homes are and their livelihoods.

When times get tough, no matter how bumpy the road gets, they find support.

“It’s amazing how many people called wanting to help,” said Remund.

Remund still isn’t sure where the other half of his herd is. He’s hoping they made it out of the fire.

“We’ll find out when we’re able to get back in there,” he said.