WMC-TV: News, Weather, Traffic, Radar, and Sports for Memphis, TN; WMCTV.com | Animals die in Mississippi blaze

Animals die in Mississippi blaze

By Janice Broach - bio | email

RED BANKS, MS (WMC-TV) - A Mississippi family was able to escape a fire that destroyed their home, but the animals they were caring for died in the blaze.

The fire happened Thursday in Red Banks Mississippi, located halfway between Byhalia and Holly Springs.

The house was still smoldering Friday.

"It's a disaster," Nina Wingfield of the Collierville Animal Shelter said.

A disaster because the house is gone, and many animals are dead, including six cats and an unknown number of dogs.  There are only a few dogs left unhurt on the property. The owner of the home, who was too upset to talk Friday, is the head of the Mid-South Animal Rescue League.

At least 60 dogs were on the property when the fire broke out. 

Thursday afternoon, the weather was pleasant, and many of the dogs at the property were outside when the fire started. They got scared and ran back into the house to their kennels, where they thought they were safe."

The dogs that didn't die in the fire ran off.

"We want to alert the public that there could be animals in this area that are lost or confused or disoriented," Wingfield said.

Many of the animals rescued by the group were abused, and could be fearful of  stranger who walks up to them. Volunteers have been looking in the area surrounding the shelter for them, hoping to bring them back to the property where they will be looked after by volunteers.