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Six weeks after the Los Angeles wildfires erupted, Chris Briffett was sifting through 10,000 volunteer applications. The director of volunteer services for Pasadena Humane, a nonprofit, is expected to bring on about 2,000 鈥� giving the organization an 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� chance, he says, to respond to the community鈥檚 needs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 now kind of a new chapter in the shelter鈥檚 history to find places for them to help,鈥� says Mr. Briffett.

When communities are devastated, people step up to help, often in ways that align with their own skills or interests. But in the past decade, more trained volunteers have been integrated with official disaster response, says Tricia Wachtendorf, co-director of the University of Delaware鈥檚 Disaster Research Center. The inclusion of volunteers in the government process of planning for emergencies, she adds, improves coordination in the midst of disaster.

Christine Quesada, director of volunteer programs for LA County's Department of Animal Care and Control, says volunteers were vital during the wildfire evacuations at LA Pierce College, which took in horses and other livestock. LA County鈥檚 Equine Response Team 鈥� volunteers trained to work with large animals 鈥� provided food and care; worked with organizations for donations of food and supplies; and cultivated relationships with owners.

Megan Silveira gave her cellphone number to every person sheltering livestock at Pierce so they could keep in touch. 鈥淚 would want that if you had my animal, which I love like my child,鈥� she says.

Ms. Silveira has been with the ERT for over 20 years. Animals have been a constant in her life, she explains, and caring for them is her way of returning their unconditional love.

During the January wildfires, the small staff at Pierce鈥檚 equine science center worked around the clock with about 20 volunteers a day, plus officers from the county鈥檚 Department of Animal Care and Control. After the first day, Pierce was at capacity with over 200 animals.

Some belonged to Sarah Kern. She arrived with six horses and two donkeys after watching the glow of flames spread across the oak-covered hills surrounding her home in Topanga. Ms. Kern knew the stakes; she and her family lost a home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

Their animals are a way of life, central to their daily activity and rhythms. With the horses and donkeys safe, she says, she could focus on caring for her family and protecting her property.

鈥淵es, you鈥檙e supporting animals,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut you鈥檙e really supporting the people. ... They鈥檙e both important.鈥�

Back at Pasadena Humane, Skinny Minnie is recovering from severe burns. She is one of nearly 170 animals still boarding here because of the fires.

Owners Mark Pastor and Lisa De Lange evacuated their home in Altadena and managed to grab their other two cats 鈥� Beauregard and Stella 鈥� but little else, with flames melting the back of Mr. Pastor鈥檚 car as he pulled out of the driveway.

Someone found Skinny Minnie in the burnt remains of their home and took her to the shelter, which posted her photo on its website, where it was discovered by Mr. Pastor. Either he or Ms. De Lange visit Skinny Minnie nearly every day.

Skinny Minnie鈥檚 care has been extensive, and it鈥檚 all covered by Pasadena Humane. When they told him, Mr. Pastor says, he 鈥渂roke down.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 like they care as much about us and our feelings as they do about the animals that they鈥檙e treating,鈥� says Mr. Pastor.

The volunteer surge has already empowered Pasadena Humane to expand its distribution of free animal supplies such as food, toys, and beds. It鈥檚 鈥渘ew territory,鈥� says Mr. Briffett, the organization鈥檚 director of volunteer services, but a 鈥済ood problem to have.鈥�

鈥淲e have a windfall of these volunteers,鈥� he adds. 鈥淎nd so we鈥檙e now in the process where we can be really as creative as we want.鈥�