BORDENTOWN, N.J. -- A three-alarm fire Sunday evening at a Burlington County zoo took the lives of two giraffes and 13 to 15 parrots, according to the owner's brother.
About 20 dogs were rescued, said George Sipp, whose brother, Burton, owns Animal Kingdom Zoo on Jacksonville-Jonstown Road in Bordentown.
It was the second fatal blaze on the property since April when Burton Sipp's wife, Bridget, a co-owner, died in a house fire.
Firefighters were dispatched Sunday shortly after 8.43 p.m., said Springfield Township Fire Chief Brian Kokotajlo.
"There was heavy fire when we arrived and it spread pretty quickly to the remainder of the building," he said.
There were no injuries to firefighters, patrons or workers, Kokotajlo said,
But, in the pet store, where the parrots perished, some people apparently had a close call. Sipp said Animal Kingdom wrapped up a Halloween Party there around 8.15 p.m.
In April, Bridget Sipp reportedly rushed back inside a nearby log cabin where she lived, thinking her visiting mother was trapped, and never emerged.
"It's an unbelievable tragedy," said George Sipp. "First the house, now this."
The zoo's website says the species there include leopard, fox, camel, monkey, kangaroo, sloth, coyote, wolf and hyena.
Sunday's fire is under investigation.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
