EATONTOWN – Vulnerable animals at the Monmouth County SPCA were saved from a dangerous fire that broke out recently.
The fire had started in the “Second Chance Hallway” portion of the facility, and was caused by a rubber-backed bathmat that had been placed inside the dryers, according to Monmouth County SPCA.
Smoke alarms went off and staff were was instructed to leave the building immediately. While those who were working directly with animals had taken them outside, staff members Shannon Hood, Rachel Horowitz, and Gianna Matto grabbed fire extinguishers and worked swiftly to extinguish the fire from the dryer. After using two full canisters, the flames still had not subsided.
“I didn’t think it was serious at first but when I realized it was, all I could think about was our animals,” said Isabelle Ricardo, a Vogel Veterinary Care Center Technician who was unpacking boxes when the fire occurred.
Ricardo then grabbed a dog from inside the clinic and ran outside. A veterinarian threw her car keys to Isabelle and told her to put the dog in her car in order to keep them safe.
“The sentiment of only thinking about the animals is the epitome of the selflessness shared by all staff and volunteers,” MCSPCA said.
Executive Director Ross Licitra and General Manager of Facilities and Animal Control Scott Crawford entered the building when the fire had reignited. During that time, Crawford extinguished the fire while Licitra opened a far door to create a vacuum to try and clear the thick smoke. The smoke had built up so much that visibility was near zero, as seen on security cameras, MCSPCA said.
Licitra said that he and Crawford tied wet cloths around their faces and used wet towels to wedge underneath all of the doors. This turned out to be a life-saving effort, MCSPCA said.
When the fire broke out, Dr. Jocelyn Eckroth was performing a complicated eye enucleation (removal) surgery on a senior shelter dog named Pappy. They were directed to leave the building and as a result, her team gathered up as many supplies as they could and made a makeshift surgical suite in the shelter’s thrift store across the parking lot.
Dr. Eckroth was able to finish the surgery and Pappy is now making a wonderful recovery, MCSPCA said.
Team members left with both client-owned and shelter patients recovering from surgery, wrapping them in pillowcases due to the lack of carriers. They then proceeded to wait outside, safely away from danger. Shelter pets were cared for with treats, water, and a lot of affection. Court-owned animals were also comforted until their owners could arrive.
Eatontown and Wanamassa firefighters arrived on scene to extinguish the fire a third time. They noted the lack of smoke in rooms where the towels had been placed compared to the hallway.
None of the animals in these areas suffered any injuries from smoke inhalation except for one adult stray cat, MCSPCA said. The cat was in active liver failure and had ringworm, and sadly didn’t make it despite emergency medical treatment.
Additionally, Crawford and Licitra were treated for smoke inhalation. After hours of clean-up, the building was cleared and staff and animals returned inside.
“MCSPCA leadership is extremely proud of the staff and volunteers present. While obviously everyone works at the MCSPCA because they are passionate about animals, all followed protocol and remained outside the building while leadership secured the animals inside of the building,” MCSPCA said.
Staff made makeshift cages, pens and carriers and water, blankets and medical supplies, while waiting for the building to be cleared. Over 200 animals were evacuated from the building within minutes, MCSPCA said.
The fire was contained within the dryer itself, with thick smoke being the largest danger and cause of damage.
“The outpouring of support from the public has been overwhelming, humbling, and heartwarming. The MCSPCA is incredibly grateful to have such a compassionate community of animal lovers who believe in their mission just as much as they do,” MCSPCA said.
