17 cats killed in fire at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando
Note: This story has been updated.
A late-night fire at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando Wednesday killed 17 cats in what the shelter’s executive director called his “worst nightmare.”
The blaze, reported to Orange County Fire Rescue at 10:21 p.m., heavily damaged the 5,000-square-foot building, located at 2727 Conroy Road near the Mall at Millenia. “Flames [were] through the roof” of the shelter, the agency said on Twitter.
Steve Bardy, executive director of the nonprofit organization, said rescuers arrived in time to safely evacuate all 26 dogs, who were in an area farther from the origin of the fire.
“It appears the fire started in the front building by the clinic, which made it more difficult for fire rescue to go into the adjacent cat room,” Bardy told reporters on the scene, his voice breaking at times.
“If you run a shelter, this is literally your worst nightmare — to see your building on fire and know that there are animals in there that you’re charged to care for and you can’t go in,” he said.
The blaze involved at least half of the building, which sits across a parking lot from Orange County Animal Services. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No humans were injured.
The Pet Alliance has a second shelter in Sanford, where the dogs and surviving cats were being transferred. Another 150 animals in the agency’s care — including the youngest kittens — currently live in foster homes, which kept the death toll from being higher.
Officials said 20 cats were rescued, including seven found early Thursday morning, though all of those rescued may not survive.
He praised a quick response from Orange County firefighters and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which helped with evacuations.
“I’m grateful that the firefighters have, you know, put their lives at risk to … help save as many as they could,” he said. “I’m eternally grateful for that.”
