Animals die in fire at a reptile store in Fresno. Firefighters think they may know cause

An “undetermined electrical fire” early Saturday left multiple animals dead and two Fresno businesses shuttered.

The Fresno Fire Department responded to Shields Avenue, just west of Fruit Avenue, after 4 a.m. and found heavy smoke coming from a building that housed Regal Reptiles and Blue Planet Aquarium.

Both businesses were keeping reptiles, and multiple animals at each died of smoke, Battalion Chief Brian Price said. No other injures were reported.

While only a quarter of the building was damaged by flames, the entire structure had smoke damage, Price said. The cause of the fire was an unintentional, undetermined electrical fire, possibly from a heater used to keep the reptiles warm, he said.

Shields Avenue was closed in both directions for a portion of Saturday morning.

In a Facebook post, Blue Planet Aquarium confirmed the fire and said it would be closed for the time being.

“We are working hard to save the animals.”