Animals killed in blaze at pet store at Otley garden centre

A firefighter at the garden centre this morning. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a blaze badly damaged a pet store in a garden centre at Otley last night

Six fire engines were sent to the incident at Stephen H Smith's garden centre on Pool Road just before 11.30pm last night. (Tues July 19)

The 100m X 100m building was 20 per cent involved in fire.

The blaze is understood to have broken out in the Pet Safari unit at the garden centre. Pets including mice, rabbits and guinea pigs are believed to have died in the blaze.

A message on the Pet Safari Facebook page today read: "I woke this morning to the devastating news that Pet Safari had a fire last night and will be closed till further notice . We are all devastated . We managed to save a few animals but many were lost."

Appliances from Otley, Cookridge, Ilkley, Stanningley, Shipley and Rawdon, were sent to the incident.

Crews are still at the scene this morning damping down the building.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service investigators are examining the scene of the fire to establish the cause.