Dogs, cats die in Burnaby, B.C., house fire

BURNABY, B.C. – Eight dogs and two cats have died in a blaze at a dog trainer’s home in Burnaby, B.C.

Assistant Fire Chief Erik Vogel says it’s unclear what sparked the fire about 8 p.m. Tuesday, when the animals were left alone while the trainer was out teaching a dog class.

He says the crews that arrived to find the home filled with smoke rushed to pull out pets and attempted resuscitation, including with animal oxygen masks.

Vogel says the trainer was badly shaken after trying herself to rescue the animals, as were the firefighters that attended what he described as a surreal scene.

He says some animals belonged to the trainer while others were people’s pets.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire department and SPCA. (CKNW)