Firefighters and employees rescued animals from a fire at the Tacoma Central PetSmart store Thursday night.
Tacoma Fire crews responded about 6:20 p.m. to the blaze at 3326 S. 23rd St.
Firefighters searched the building to make sure no people were inside and then started to remove animals from the building.
No humans were injured, but it wasn't immediately clear whether any animals were hurt, Battalion Chief Jolene Davis said.
Crews put out the fire, and an investigator was called in to determine how it started, she said.
"I ran into the grooming salon and grabbed a beagle and a French bulldog and ran out, " a PetSmart cashier said as she helped take care of animals in the parking lot.
Before she could give her name, a woman who appeared to be a manager told all employees that they were not to speak with the media.
The workers rescued 11-year-old mixed-breed pup named Higgins and 1-year-old beagle named Harvey from the burning store, owner Bryon Taylor said.
The employees put the dogs in their personal cars outside and kept them calm until he got there, Taylor said.
"They took really good care of them, " he said. "They're (the dogs are) not even shaken up right now."
The store was not going to charge Taylor for the grooming the dogs received and planned to replace the leashes and collars that were lost in the blaze, he said.
Australian Shepherd Enzo seemed anxious and confused in the parking lot, though she hadn't been inside the building.
"We were just showing up for training, " owner Kristi Dennett said. "She was so excited for class."
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alexis.krell@ thenewstribune.com
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