Fire destroys Edgewater Animal Clinic; 30 animals safely evacuated; no injuries

NSBNEWS.net photos and video by Jeanette DiCara.

A fire Friday night destroyed the Animal Clinic of Edgewater on South Ridgewood Avenue, but nearly three dozen animals were safely evacuated and no persons were hurt. At left, an unidentified woman kisses a dog that was safely rescued. Below,  flames roll through the roof and thick, black smoke fills the air in the 5:05 p.m. fire.

EDGEWATER -- The Animal Clinic of Edgewater on South Ridgewod Avenue went up in flames Friday night, but all 30 animals inside were safely evacuated as were the staff, Edgewater Fire Rescue officials said.

A discarded cigarette behind the building is believed responsible for igniting the 5:05 blaze that destroyed the clinic at 2305 S. Ridgewood Ave., with flames shooting through the rook and sending thick smoke into the evening air.

Firefighters arrive to a roaring fire that has eaten through the roof of the clinic. Below, animals are comforted as people watch firefighters in action.

Edgewater Fire Chief Steve Cousins told media at the scene that he was on his way home when he saw the flames several blocks away.

An alert passerby who saw the fire erupting out back ran into the building and informed clinic operator Dr. Kim Castro, who started evacuating the animals with firefighters arriving on scene.

Castro is in the process of building a new clinic about a half mile south of the destroyed clinic. No damage estimates were yet available, though the building is considered a total loss.

The Edgewater firefighters were assisted by units from New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange and Volusia County.

Edgewater and county animal control trucks helped shelter the animals while the fire was being put out and arrangements were being made to find shelter for animals whose owners could not be reached immediately.