The Shadow
ROANOKE (AP) – Workers at a Roanoke pet store joined firefighters in safely evacuating puppies, cats and other pets after a back room fire filled the store with dense smoke.
Workers told The Roanoke Times they didn’t think twice about rescuing the animals when smoke began filling a PetSmart store Saturday afternoon. Roanoke fire spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury says no injuries were reported as some 80 puppies, cats, gerbils and other animals were safely plucked from the Valley View Mall.
One store patron, Erica Vermillion, says she spotted a puppy after the fire and filled out adoption papers immediately. She plans to name her new pet Sparky.
Firefighters say they also cleared smoke from a neighboring Target store that had to be evacuated. They say a sprinkler system quickly contained the fire.
