DALLAS — A fire that broke out at a Dallas mall Friday morning killed more than 500 animals, most of them small birds, authorities said.
The 579 animals at the pet store in Plaza Latina 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.
It took about two hours and 45 firefighters to extinguish the two-alarm fire by about 11 a.m., Evans said.
“While DFR personnel attempted to search and rescue them, unfortunately all of the animals in the store died from smoke inhalation,” Evans said.
No one was injured in the fire. The structure of the large, single-story mall was badly damaged, including a partially collapsed roof, Evans said.
The mall is home to a variety of small businesses and was described on its Facebook page as “a place where people can go to eat and shop for all kinds of Latin products and services.” In a post on the page, in Spanish, he asked for a prayer for the families who work there.
The cause of the fire was not immediately determined and is under investigation, Evans said.
