Fluorescent Light Sparked SD Animal Shelter Fire
HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) — A fire that destroyed an animal shelter in western South Dakota and killed a dozen dogs was electrical in nature, investigators say.
"Probable cause is a fluorescent light fixture," Deputy State Fire Marshal Cliff Dahl told KOTA-TV.
The Wednesday blaze destroyed the Battle Mountain Humane Society facility near Hot Springs, killed 11 shelter dogs and the pet dog of the caretaker, and left dozens more homeless.
"The huskies have been sitting at the back howling for their brother," board member Cheryl Fair told KOTA. "It's been very difficult."
Founder and caretaker Tonia Wagoner, who lost her home and the possessions in the fire, cut her hand helping animals escape and needed stitches.
The nonprofit shelter is not affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States. Support has been pouring in since the fire, Fair said.
She told the Rapid City Journal that another board member has brought a recreational vehicle to the site for Wagoner to live in, and KEVN-TV reported that an anonymous donor has offered a mobile home to the shelter if someone can arrange to transport it to the site.
Fair told the Journal that next Tuesday, 25 dog kennels are being delivered to the site courtesy of the Ryan Newman Foundation, a charity maintained by the NASCAR driver. Wells Fargo banks in the area have set up a donation fund, the Pamida store in Hot Springs is giving a portion of its pet food sales, and the Humane Society of the Black Hills in Rapid City has offered its help, as have numerous individuals.
"One woman from Black Hawk donated 1,000 pounds of dog food," Fair told the Journal.
KOTA reported that the shelter received 1,300 pounds of pet food in a 24-hour period, enough to last about two weeks.
"We were week to week to where the dog food was going to come from, now it's kind of day to day, but the outpouring has been unbelievable," Fair told the TV station.
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