After a group of Florida firefighters protected several homes and lives by containing a wildfire on Thursday, they had one more tiny rescue to make.
Once the fire that spread over about 285 acres in the Royal Trails section of Lake County was contained, members of Lake County Fire Rescue were surveying the area when they spotted a bear cub that had suffered slight burns to his paws and face.
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They scooped up the tiny 15-pound bear and called in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to evaluate his injuries. He'll be evaluated before being released in the wild.The firefighters also gave him a name: Smokey Junior.
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Before they found Smokey Jr., firefighters were able to save homes and residents from the fire in a rural area near Ocala National Forest. The area is the home of the most black bears in Florida, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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