Several dogs killed in fire near Palmdale animal shelter; 5 people injured

A brush fire Wednesday morning in Palmdale left five people injured and killed up to five dogs at a nearby animal shelter, authorities said.

Flames were reported about 9:40 a.m. next to the 14 Freeway near West Avenue O-8 and 11th Street West, according to Inspector Gustavo Medina of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Medina said the fire occurred near Rescue Oasis and killed five dogs at the shelter and injured an additional five animals, but a statement on the shelter’s Facebook page said three dogs were killed while seven dogs were injured.

The owner of Rescue Oasis, Dave Schroeder, told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that once he heard of the fire, he rushed to the kennels with a hose.

“I ran over to try to let them out of those dog runs, and it was literally a wall of flame 20 feet high,” Schroeder said.

The flames charred three acres before the fire was controlled about 10:15 a.m. An 80-square-foot structure was damaged.

Of the five people injured, two suffered bites from the dogs and three others had minor burns, Medina said. An employee of Rescue Oasis suffered second-degree burns while trying to free a dog from a kennel before the flames closed in, according to the shelter.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The dogs that survived the blaze were taken to Val Vista Kennel, which is also in Palmdale.

For more news in California, follow @MattHjourno.

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