Hundreds of animals killed in Dallas shopping center fire

DALLAS– A fire that broke out at a Dallas shopping center Friday morning killed more than 500 animals, most of them small birds, authorities said.

The 579 animals at the Plaza Latina pet store in Northwest Dallas died of smoke inhalation, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said in a statement.

The flames of the fire never reached the animals. Chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats also died, Evans said.

The two-alarm fire lasted about two hours and as many as 45 firefighters were extinguished by about 11 a.m., Evans said.

“While DFR personnel searched and attempted to rescue, all of the animals in the store unfortunately died from smoke inhalation,” Evans said.

No people were 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 several small businesses and was described on its Facebook page as “a place where people can go to eat and buy all kinds of Latin American goods and services.” A Spanish message on the page asked for prayers for the families working there.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined and is under investigation, Evans said.