Firefighters rescue animals from pet shop blaze
EUGENE, Ore. -- Firefighters evacuated birds and other animals from a fire in a pet shop, and police and firefighters rushed several of the animals to a nearby animal clinic. Not all of the animals survived.
The fire broke out at the Zany Zoo pet shop on West 11th Ave. just before 3 a.m. Friday.
Firefighters quickly put out the fire. The cause is under investigation.
Glenn Potter with the Eugene Fire Department said the fire was caused by overloaded electrical circuits. Firefighters think the fire started in the reptile room with devices providing heat or light.
Firefighters were able to save 2/3 of the animals. None of the puppies died.
Damage to Jasper's Deli nextdoor came from firefighters looking to see if the fire had traveled into the ceiling space. An earlier version of this story mistakenly indicated the fire was at the deli.
Eugene police assisted in re-directing traffic, as emergency vehicles blocked off West 11th and Bailey Hill Road. Staff from a nearby emergency animal clinic came to the assistance of emergency personnel as they pulled pets from the smokey building.
It was not immediately known what caused the blaze.
Damage to the building is estimated at $100,000 with $25,000 loss of property.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
