LAFD: About 20 Birds, 100 Fish, 1 Dog Died In Koreatown Pet Store Fire
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Crews were on the scene of a commercial fire Saturday that erupted in a Koreatown pet store.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, crews were sent around 8:20 a.m. to a four-story building, located in the 3900 block of West 6th Street, for report of smoke showing in a business with apartments located above.
Once on scene, firefighters reported the blaze was contained to the first floor of the building.
In total, 41 firefighters were able to contain the flames within 36 minutes, officials said.
Animal control officers, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power were requested at the scene.
No residents of the building were injured, but the pets inside didn't fare as well.
According to firefighters, about 20 birds, 100 fish, and one dog died within the heavily smoke charged building.
The dog belonged to the store's owners.
"We're very upset," Elizabeth Lee told CBS 2's Joy Benedict, "the pets were like family, like children."
Lee and her husband have owned the pet store about five years.
"I lost an English bull dog and macaw. They were like family and I don't have children that's why I love [them] so much. my husband love so much."
Firefighters said the fire started around 8:30 a.m., around the time the store owners opened up.
"Chances are when they were starting to open up it got enough oxygen and set everything off," said LAFD Battalion Chief Jaime Moore.
The store's sprinkler system kept the fire relatively contained before firefighters could arrive.
"It's the smoke that's actually gonna affect animals humans and that's whats gonna kill people," Moore said.
The fire has been ruled an accident. Officials believe the blaze started in the ceiling of a back storage area where all the electrical wires are house. The store used a lot of wires to supply all the fish tanks.
The owners told Benedict the clean-up will take several days.
"We fix it, [we're] gonna reopen," Lee said although admitting it would be difficult without their personal pets.