A devastating fire has destroyed a children's soft play centre and mini zoo in Hertfordshire, killing all the animals housed inside. Fire crews rushed to The Jungle Box on the Watermill Industrial Estate in Buntingford at 3am on Wednesday morning.
Blaze Claims Lives of Exotic Animals
The soft play facility, which opened in June last year, featured a mini zoo and pets' corner. It housed a variety of small animals, including meerkats, owls, iguanas, giant tortoises, and a 16ft snake. Tragically, all of these animals perished in the fire, according to The Mirror.
After extinguishing the blaze, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that no animals survived. Fortunately, no people were harmed during the incident.
Fire Service Response
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Darren Cook stated: 'In the early hours of the morning, we received calls to a significant fire at The Jungle Box in Buntingford. Crews worked hard to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring units. I would like to thank all crews for their professionalism and hard work, and fire control colleagues for their calm and efficient handling of the calls.'
He added: 'We can confirm that a number of animals were inside the building at the time of the fire and did not survive. An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway.'
