by firefighters, residents
A three-alarm fire in a Queens pet store killed several animals early yesterday, but scores more were saved by firefighters and Good Samaritans who carried the critters out of harm's way, officials and witnesses said. An electrical fire broke out just before midnight inside Bob's Tropical Pet Center at 91-10 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, a two-story building with apartments on the top floor, fire officials said. The fire spread quickly to the store's ceilings and walls, leaving animals in front with the best chance of rescue. Those in the back - particularly small birds - were in the most danger, fire officials and witnesses said. "The kittens were more towards the front, which was probably their saving grace," said Lenore Telesca, 38, a licensed veterinary technician who lives around the corner and helped rescue animals. It was not clear how many animals died. A store employee said that as many as 150 animals were kept in the store overnight. "There were some that died, but we haven't had a count," said Mike Rubinstein, who works at a Ridgewood pet store with the same name and ownership. "All the birds, except for one parakeet, died," Telesca said. "Some of the fish died, but I believe some survived." Firefighters carried away puppies, cats, birds and even pigs. Outside, they gave the animals, including kittens, oxygen from face masks designed for humans. Good Samaritans also took some animals home, and some later called the store's owner to report the animals were fine, Rubinstein said. But some rescuers apparently were not immediately calling the owners to give the animals back, he said. Eleven firefighters suffered minor injuries, officials said. Telesca said she took five kittens to Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream, where she works - a haven that also has taken in pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Dr. John Charos, a veterinarian there, said the kittens, ranging from 6 to 12 weeks old, were severely burned. He said smoke inhalation poses a serious threat and their next 48 hours will be crucial. He said a sixth kitten was dead on arrival. Though the fire was still being investigated, its cause was believed to be an electrical malfunction in wiring of a window display case, a fire department spokesman said.
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