Dozens of dogs were rescued from a New Jersey boarding facility after a fire late Saturday night.
The Fairfield Police Department said the fire broke out shortly before 10 p.m. in a building that houses K9 Resorts Hotel. The business is housed in a large building that contains other businesses in the Pio Costa Industrial Complex.
Police from several departments were able to evacuate many of the dogs but the smoke condition became unsafe and they had to stop the rescues.
The Fairfield Fire Department arrived a short time later and was able to rescue the remainder of the 46 dogs.
All the dogs were safe and were moved to a separate facility owned by K9 Resorts. Veterinarian professionals were checking out all of the dogs as a precaution.
"The success of this evacuation effort is the direct result of the bravery and selflessness of responding law enforcement officers and firefighters who made sure that they continued to enter the facility until all dogs were safely removed," said Public Information Officer Stacy Chiarolanza. "The quick response and actions of the Fairfield Fire Department and our mutual aid fire departments contained the fire before it could have been much worse."
A Fairfield police officer suffered smoke inhalation during the rescue operation and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but the heaviest fire damage was in the area of the MR Convenience and Smoke Shop which is also housed in the building.
Several other businesses, including the Eatery Care Kitchen, Bella Art Tattoo and the K9 Resorts Hotel experienced smoke damage.
