That’s what happens here too. The difference I think is the multitude of horse people and ranchers with trailers and ranches, big and small that can take them. From watching twitter mostly about the fire, the fires moved rapidly, without access for trailers to get in or enough trailers to handle the amount of livestock.
Most horse people hit the road to help in a heartbeat if they can, including just riding one out and leading others or turning them all loose.
It’s hard to say what happened here. It sounds like they waited too late do anything. The one time I had to evacuate, I had my trailer hooked up and both horses in it for an hour or so before orders came to evacuate.
The speed these California fires move is scary compared to even a fast NM fire. Plus, there are far fewer people where I am.