Fire tragedy in Dallas: Hundreds of animals perish
On Friday morning, due to a fire that erupted in a shopping centre in northwest Dallas (USA), hundreds of animals perished, although some were rescued. Thankfully, no people were harmed.
On Friday, 3rd January, 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. It is unclear how many people were inside when the fire broke out, but everyone exited the building safely.
A spokesperson for the Dallas Fire Department stated that all the animals that died were in a pet shop. 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 several 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 at the scene, thick smoke and flames were emanating 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.
