A catastrophic fire has completely destroyed a children's soft play centre and mini zoo in Hertfordshire, resulting in the tragic deaths of all animals housed within the facility. The blaze broke out at The Jungle Box, located on the Watermill Industrial Estate in Buntingford, at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning.
Emergency Response
Emergency services dispatched a total of 10 fire engines to the scene. Firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to adjacent units. After extinguishing the fire, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that no humans were injured, but all animals present in the building at the time of the fire had perished.
Animal Losses
The Jungle Box, which opened its doors to visitors in June of the previous year, featured a mini zoo and pets' corner. The attraction was home to a variety of small animals, including meerkats, owls, iguanas, giant tortoises, and a 16ft snake. All of these animals tragically lost their lives in the fire, as reported by The Mirror.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Darren Cook expressed his gratitude to the crews for their professionalism and hard work, as well as to fire control colleagues for their calm and efficient handling of the emergency calls. He stated, "We can confirm that a number of animals were inside the building at the time of the fire and did not survive."
Investigation Underway
An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway. Officials are working to determine how the blaze started and to assess the full extent of the damage. The community has been left shocked by the incident, which has resulted in the complete loss of the facility's animal inhabitants.
