Hundreds of animals were killed on Friday when one a fire broke out at a mall in Dallas.
The 579 animals, mostly small birds, at a pet store in the Plaza Latina shopping center died of smoke inhalation, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said in a statement.
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Firefighters spray water at the Plaza Latina shopping center in Dallas, Texas on Friday. (KDFW)
Dallas Fire-Rescue said by the time firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were billowing from the building. FOX Dallas reported.
It took them about two hours to completely extinguish the fire.
The flames never reached the animals, but the pet store filled with smoke. In addition to the birds, chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats also died, Evans said.
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The Plaza Latina Mall in Dallas. (KDFW)
“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. However, the fire caused significant damage to the structure, including a partially collapsed roof.
Wilmer is about 15 miles from downtown Dallas. (Matt Nager/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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The shopping center 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.
Dallas Fire Rescue did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
