WESTBROOK – About 10 dogs were evacuated from the back kennel area at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook after a fire broke out in the laundry room Wednesday morning.
The Westbrook Fire Department responded to a call from the shelter, located at 449 Stroudwater St., at 8:18 a.m. No one was injured during the fire. The shelter lost all its linens and about 85 percent of its dog toys.
By 8:40, the fire was out and the burned laundry had been taken outside. Westbrook Public Safety Chief Michael Pardu there was smoke damage, but the building structure seemed to be stable.
Lynne McGhee, community relations manager at the shelter, said volunteers on hand to walk the dogs were able to remove the animals from kennels in the back of the building and take them outside.
The rest of the animals were allowed to stay inside, but the fire department closed off doors leading to the laundry room to protect the animals against the smoke.
“The Westbrook Fire Department did an amazing job. The got here very quickly and told us very accurately what we can and can’t do when moving the animals,” McGhee said. “Our dog volunteers really did an amazing job getting all the dogs out and away from the building.”
The extent of the damage was not known at the American Journal deadline.
Meanwhile, the shelter is seeking donations of sheets and pillowcases, blankets, comforters and dog and cat beds to replace what was lost. It is providing regular updates at www.facebook.com/AnimalRefugeLeagueofGreaterPortland.
Westbrook Fire Fighters stand outside the Animal Refuge League on the morning of January 16 after putting out a small fire started in the laundry room of the building.Send questions/comments to the editors.
