SEATTLE — A dryer fire at a Seattle dog daycare facility put more than 100 dogs in danger, but firefighters were able to clear the building just after noon.
The fire caused about $300,000 in damage, according to Seattle Fire. Investigators ruled the fire an accident.
The fire was first reported before 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the 13000 block of Lake City Way NE.
Seattle Fire said all seven workers are accounted for. One employee was evaluated on scene and was stable.
The facility had more than 100 dogs inside at the time the fire broke out, Seattle Fire said. Just afternoon noon, firefighters had completed a primary and secondary search and said the facility was clear.
At least two dogs were taken to a local veterinarian to receive treatment for smoke inhalation, Seattle Fire said. They will remain there overnight. The department said it provided life-saving care to four dogs on scene. They said battalion units are equipped with oxygen masks designed to fit dogs and small animals.
“The first thing they lack in smoke inhalation is oxygen so for them to be prepared like that helped with outcome for patients. I thought that was very impressive. There were multiple people from everywhere. Fire department, ambulances, that all chipped in to make sure that happened quickly was the best thing for them,” said April Panpipat, Hospital Director at Animal Center of Seattle.
It was a community effort to help rescue, secure, and transport the dogs from inside the facility. Initially, people driving by, local businesses, and a box truck stepped in to help with the dogs.
Seattle’s animal control stepped in to help. The agency used their trucks and King County Metro buses to take 75 dogs to boarding facilities
“This is definitely the largest scale fire that we've been on as far as number of animals,” said Don Baxter, manager of field services with Seattle Animal Shelter.
At least some of the dogs will be taken to BowWow Fun Towne to be reunited with their owners. Not all of the dogs have been transported yet.
The owner of BowWow Fun Towne was at the scene of the fire with a van to help transport the dogs.
The Seattle Animal Shelter also sent animal control officers to help transport dogs to another facility. Some dogs were reunited at the scene of the fire with their owners. Those who could not be picked up immediately were taken to BowWow Fun Towne.
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