Eugene (KMTR) - Damage from an early-morning fire in a busy area of west Eugene spread from a deli to a pet store Friday.
The fire broke out around 3:00 a.m. at Jasper's Deli at West 11th and Bailey Hill road. When fire crews arrived, smoke had filled Jasper’s and The Zany Zoo pet store next door.
Eugene District Fire Chief Mark Grover said firefighters tried to rescue the animals inside the store, but some of the animals died from the smoke.
“We were able to rescue a large number of birds, rodents, reptiles, puppies, cats and they're all being transported now to the vet emergency clinic that's just about two blocks away,” Grover said.
It appeared to Grover that the fire started in a dividing wall, between the two businesses.
“The majority of it was smoke damage. The fire was contained to the adjoining wall between the deli and the pet store. They are doing some major remodeling to the strip mall. Looks like they'll have some additional work to do,” he said.