The Chattanooga Zoo will be closed until Saturday to assess damages in a Tuesday night fire in which several small animals died.
A fire broke out in the Education Building at the Chattanooga Zoo which housed many of the facility’s program animals. The fire was reported at approximately 11 p.m. Chattanooga Fire Department personnel worked with the Zoo’s staff to save as many animals as possible.
Many program animals were lost, including two chinchillas, two rabbits, three quail, an African grey parrot, a prairie dog and a crested Gecko. Twenty animals were rescued from the building.
Among those saved were Moluccan cockatoos, three conures, several reptiles, a kinkajou and two dogs.
The Chattanooga Zoo’s staff will be assessing the fire damage and working on a housing plan for the animals which were rescued from the burning building.
At this time, the cause of the fire is not known; however, it was not an intentionally set fire, officials said.
Chattanooga firefighters battled the two-alarm blaze in a two-story building referred to as the Education Center, which is located between the gift shop and the public pool. Flames were breaking through the roof when the firefighters arrived on the scene.
Employees with the zoo, including Executive Director Darde Long, informed the firefighters that about 20 small animals were still inside the building, including rabbits, parrots, prairie dogs, turtles and lizards.
Battalion Chief Winston Shields instructed some firefighters to use handheld hoselines to make an interior attack in the building, while others searched for the animals.
Bruce Garner, fire department spokesman, said, "The firefighters were able to save many of the animals, but Ms. Long said roughly eight of them perished from exposure to smoke and heat. That number could go up, depending on the condition of the animals that were saved. The building did not house any of the larger animals at the zoo."
Firefighters with 13 fire companies managed to get the blaze under control in roughly 40 minutes, containing most of the fire damage to the second floor on one end of the building. There was smoke and water damage to the rest of the building.
The loss was estimated at around $50,000 to the structure, which was actually a multi-purpose facility that had offices and a rehabilitation area for ill and injured animals. One firefighter injured her back and one of her knees on the scene and was transported by Hamilton County EMS to a local hospital, where she was treated and released.
Captain Lesley Morgan with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature, though what exactly sparked the blaze remains undetermined and under investigation. Chattanooga police and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue provided valuable assistance on the scene.
The Zoo will reopen on Saturday at 9 a.m.
Ms. Long said, “We want to express our appreciation to the Chattanooga Fire Department for their help in rescuing so many of our animals and containing the fire to this one area. While the loss of any of our animals is very difficult, this situation could have been much worse.”
She added, “We’ve already begun to receive calls from so many kind people wanting to assist us during this time. We appreciate these calls and are humbled that so many join us in wanting to help our zoo through such a difficult time.”
Individuals and corporations wanting to assist the Zoo should call 423 421-1567 or email lesliertd@yahoo.com.