A devastating fire at a shopping center in Northwest Dallas claimed the lives of hundreds of animals.
The blaze broke out just before 11 a.m. Friday at Plaza Latina, located on the 11200 block of Harry Hines Boulevard. Dallas Fire-Rescue dispatched 40 to 45 firefighters, who worked to contain the fire using hand lines and three ladder pipes.
The fire was declared under control by 11:03 a.m., but not before a portion of the shopping center’s roof collapsed, including over a business that sells exotic animals, KRLD reported.
No human injuries were reported.
Dallas Animal Control was called in to assist with the investigation into the reported 579 animal fatalities and is attending to nearly two dozen animals that survived. Most of the animal deaths occurred due to smoke inhalation, per CBS News.
“Most were small birds, but there were also chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats,” said Robert Borse, a spokesman for Dallas Fire-Rescue, reported CBS. “No exotic animals were found on the site at the time of recovery.”
Dallas firefighters were seen performing CPR on a tortoise and reviving a puppy, per CBS.
As of Friday afternoon, the cause of the fire remained under investigation. Authorities have not yet determined what triggered the fire. The loss of the animals and the structural damage to the shopping center has left many residents and business owners in shock.
The story is developing, and more details will likely emerge as the investigation progresses.
