DALLAS, Texas –
A fire that broke out at a shopping center in Dallas on Friday morning killed more than 500 animals, most of which were small birds, authorities said.
All 579 animals at the pet store in Plaza Latina in northwest Dallas died from smoke inhalation, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said in a statement.
The flames from the fire never reached the animals. Chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats also died, Evans said.
The two-alarm fire took about two hours and was extinguished by up to 45 firefighters around 11 a.m., Evans said.
“While DFR personnel searched and attempted to rescue, unfortunately all of the animals in the store died due to smoke inhalation,” Evans said.
No one was injured in the fire. The structure of the large one-story shopping center was severely damaged, including a partially collapsed roof, Evans said.
The mall includes multiple small businesses and was described on its Facebook page as “a place where people can go to eat and buy all kinds of Latin products and services.” A post on the Spanish page asked for prayers for the families who work there.
The cause of the fire was not immediately determined and is under investigation, Evans said.
