A tragic fire swept through a children's soft play centre and mini zoo in Hertfordshire, resulting in the death of every animal housed inside. The blaze broke out at The Jungle Box on the Watermill Industrial Estate in Buntingford at around 3am on Wednesday morning.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Emergency services dispatched ten fire engines to the scene. 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, none of the animals survived the fire.
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that all animals in the building at the time of the fire perished. Fortunately, no humans were harmed during the incident.
Official Statements
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 spreading to neighbouring units. I'd like to thank all crews for their professionalism and hard work and fire control colleagues for their calm and efficient handling of the calls. We can confirm that a number of animals were inside the building at the time of the fire and did not survive."
Investigation Underway
An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway. Authorities are working to determine how the blaze started and whether any safety measures could have prevented the tragedy.
