Fireworks shoot from store in downtown Crawfordsville

Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday neighbors say they saw smoke coming out of the pet store in downtown Crawfordsville.

[Carlos]

The fire STARTED in the pet/pet supply store, not the fireworks side.

It was, unfortunately, probably a malfunctioning/shorted out heating element on a terrarium or aquarium.

[Mustacious]

I say AMEN to voicerdave, I hope the pets were rescued. They have no way of getting out of their cages which are locked behind a glass door. There are too many fireworks stores in C'ville anyway. Whether the fire STARTED there or not, it should NOT have been in the same building as a pet store. Come on.

[Mustacious]

OH, and I am NOT from Illinois, I am from Crawfordsville IN. Don't know how that got there...

[i need help]

What's wrong with me? I feel worse for these animals than I do when I read about a house fire.

[Professor Turgeson]

Unfortunately WRTV6 is reporting that "hundreds of animals were killed". Very sad.

[Debby M]

Gerbils, many kittens, fish, and birds were killed according to WIBC. I feel horrible about this. May they rest in peace.:(

The firemen were inside but I guess they didn't care about the animals.

I'm not sure where the fire started, but fireworks stores should be outlawed again in Indiana. What was our General Assembly thinking of when they passed the bill allowing them?

[Kris]

I hear many stories about how firemen risk their own lives and save animals. Not sure what happened here. I just adore animals and feel so bad that any were lost.

[Tommy]

the news said the fire was at 3:30 a.m so probably no animals survived because nobody was working and the fire started in the pet store but i'm not 100% sure though. I will find out for sure at 12:00.

[Tommy]

i'm from Crawfordsville IN not from michigan

[Lily]

From our paper it says:"Firefighters from Lafayette, Madison Township, Greencastle and Waynetown were called to assist the Crawfordsville Fire Department. Approximately 20 people left their homes when smoke from the fire filled their buildings, said Red Cross Emergency Services Program Manager Kim Bushong."

I love animals as much as the next person, but I am much more thankful that none of the fire fighters nor the residents that live next to those buildings were hurt.

[Tina From Hillsboro]

This is very sad I bought a puuppy from this store 1 yr ago and continued to buy her food their weekly. Now have to find someone else as nice as they were. hopefully they will open in another location or rebuild,

[FrankDrebbin]

"Move along people, nothing to see here"

[Hoosier]

The firefighters were inside the building for around 35 min fighting the fire.But were told to pull out because of the roof possibly falling in.

[Just Saying]

Tina From Hillsboro wrote:

This is very sad I bought a puuppy from this store 1 yr ago and continued to buy her food their weekly. Now have to find someone else as nice as they were. hopefully they will open in another location or rebuild,

People like you are why stores like these keep live animals "for sale" in little glass cages. Shame on you for buying your fancy puppy from a pet store. If nobody bought animals from these places, they would stop carrying live animals.

[mwchickidea]

Just Saying wrote:

<quoted text>
People like you are why stores like these keep live animals "for sale" in little glass cages. Shame on you for buying your fancy puppy from a pet store. If nobody bought animals from these places, they would stop carrying live animals.

Amen! I abhore the practice of selling animals in stores.

[Kris]

mwchickidea wrote:

<quoted text>
Amen! I abhore the practice of selling animals in stores.

Humane Society critters rock!!! I know the Pet Supply Plus by us has kittens but they are from the humane society and they charge the fee for the humane society.
Some stores just sell sick, sad animals though.

[T from C-ville]

Great job to the NEW Crawfordsville Fire Chief!!!!!!!!!! Why would the only aerial truck be broke down and/or not working? Don't they test these things before a fire like this is going? What happened to saving the animals?(SOMEONE CALL PETA NOW!)Does the fire department send out personal to inspect these old buildings when they are not putting out fires? Maybe Barton should take over again!!!!!!!!!!

[Josh G]

Debby M wrote:

Gerbils, many kittens, fish, and birds were killed according to WIBC. I feel horrible about this. May they rest in peace.:(
The firemen were inside but I guess they didn't care about the animals.
I'm not sure where the fire started, but fireworks stores should be outlawed again in Indiana. What was our General Assembly thinking of when they passed the bill allowing them?

Ok, while I have no opinion one way or the other on the subject of selling animals in a store, I do have one on the subjects of firefighters and fireworks. First of all the firefighters risk their lives every time they go into a burning building, I my self was a volunteer FF, in most cases they will try to save as many animals as they can. But some times its just not possible. I commend our FF for their actions, they don’t need to be ostracized for not saving animals when their lives(HUMAN LIVES)are more important. It’s not that our FF don’t care. I know some of our FF and they feel just as bad about the loss as most of you. Second not trying to be rude, but the General Assembly did not legalize firework stores but the usage of aerial fireworks on private property in the state. We have been able to buy "out of state" fireworks for many years, we just weren’t aloud to use them except for designated areas. But I do agree that the outlets should be in stand alone buildings.

[Josh G]

And I am from Crawfordsville.

[Kris]

Josh G wrote:

<quoted text>
Ok, while I have no opinion one way or the other on the subject of selling animals in a store, I do have one on the subjects of firefighters and fireworks. First of all the firefighters risk their lives every time they go into a burning building, I my self was a volunteer FF, in most cases they will try to save as many animals as they can. But some times its just not possible. I commend our FF for their actions, they don’t need to be ostracized for not saving animals when their lives(HUMAN LIVES)are more important. It’s not that our FF don’t care. I know some of our FF and they feel just as bad about the loss as most of you. Second not trying to be rude, but the General Assembly did not legalize firework stores but the usage of aerial fireworks on private property in the state. We have been able to buy "out of state" fireworks for many years, we just weren’t aloud to use them except for designated areas. But I do agree that the outlets should be in stand alone buildings.

I do agree that the lives of the firemen/firewomen are more important than animal lives. I honestly think that if there were a way they would have saved all the animals even the snakes.(remember pee wee big adventure).