Tragedy in Dallas: Shopping centre fire claims 600 animals
On Friday morning, a fire broke out in a shopping centre in northwest Dallas, USA, resulting in the loss of hundreds of animals. Some animals were rescued. Fortunately, no people were harmed.
On Friday, January 3rd, a tragic fire occurred at the Plaza Latina shopping centre in Dallas, which claimed the lives of nearly 600 animals. According to the Associated Press, no people were injured in the incident. The number of people inside when the fire broke out remains unknown, but everyone safely exited the building.
A spokesperson for the Dallas Fire Department reported that all the animals that died were in a pet store. Among the 579 victims, the majority were birds.
Most were small birds, but there were also chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats, said Robert Borse, the local fire department spokesperson, as quoted by CBS News.
"While fire did not reach the pet shop, a great deal of smoke did enter," the spokesperson explained.
The lives of a few animals were saved. Dallas firefighters resuscitated a turtle and a puppy that was on the brink of death. They also rescued miniature pigs, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
The fire lasted about two hours, and 45 firefighters were involved in extinguishing it. When the firefighters arrived on the scene, thick smoke and flames were coming from the building.
Fire in Plaza Latina: Investigation into the causes
The fire led to a partial collapse of the building's roof. The shopping centre housed many small businesses, some of which had been operating in the complex for 25 years.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire, but so far, no cause has been identified.
