Heartbreak: Florida wildlife sanctuary fire kills "nearly all of the animals"

A fire that broke out on Thursday morning at a wildlife center in Florida killed hundreds of animals being housed in its facilities, authorities said. 

The Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center in Madeira Beach, near St. Petersburg, Florida, caught fire at around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday. 

The Madeira Beach Fire Department arrived at the scene to put out the fire. However, they could not get inside due to “rapidly deteriorating conditions,” said Fire Chief Clint Belk. 

By the time the fire was put out, the wildlife center and surrounding businesses sustained “major damage,” said Cpl. Dave Brenn. 

"We suffered from a tragic fire last night. Nearly all of the animals are gone. We are devastated," a post on the wildlife center's Facebook page said. 

All of the mammals that were inside the facility perished in the fire, said Sonny Flynn, who owns the center.

Several of the reptiles, including lizards, amphibians, turtles, tortoises, and alligators were injured in the fire. The injured animals were transferred to other locations with the help of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. 

About 95% of the 250 animals in the center were "pet surrenders because people didn't know how to take care of them, or they weren't able to take care of them," Flynn told WTSP. 

"They didn't deserve this. This is my whole life," Flynn added. "They all have names, they all have personality, I come in every morning and talk to them like Dr. Dolittle."

The Pinellas County Arson Unit and State Fire Marshal’s Office are conducting an investigation to determine what caused the fire. 

The Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center was founded in 2011 to focus on the conservation and education of wild animals. 

"Our immediate goal is the provision of humane, professional care for pet surrenders and orphaned native wildlife that cannot be safely returned to the wild," the center says.