On the morning of Friday, January 3, a fire broke out at the Bazar Plaza Latina shopping center, located in Dallas, Texas. The blaze caused more than 500 animals to die in a pet store, mainly small birds, due to smoke inhalation, as reported by the Associated Press (AP) news agency.
Jason Evans, spokesman for Dallas Fire-Rescue, reported that although the fire did not reach the pet store directly, a large amount of smoke did.
“The staff searched and tried to rescue all the animals in the store, unfortunately, they all died from smoke inhalation,” Evans explained in a statement.
More than 500 animals die in the fire
Dallas Animal Services (DAS) removed a total of 579 animals from the premises, including small birds, hamsters, two dogs, and two cats. Although the business allegedly sold wild animals, emergency services did not find any on site.
Fortunately, the three people inside the building at the time of the fire managed to escape thanks to the fire alarm and the building’s sprinkler system, so no human injuries were reported.
The fire caused serious structural damage, including the partial collapse of the building’s roof. In a post on the Bazar Plaza Latina’s Facebook account, the company asked for prayers for the families working in the shopping center.
“A regrettable situation we experienced this morning, we ask for your prayers for all the families who work here, hoping to be back on our feet soon, to provide the attention that you and your families deserve,” they stated.
As of now, authorities have not determined the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation, according to AP. This case highlights the vulnerability of animals in emergency situations and expands the debate on the ethics of keeping animals in commercial establishments.
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