Staff have been left ‘devastated’ after animals died in a blaze at a country park.
Emergency services were called to Old Down Estate, near Alveston in South Gloucestershire, after a fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday (27 April).
The incident is said to have affected Pets Corner – where children are able to up close and personal with rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and even a wallaby.
It’s not, at this stage, clear how many animals died in the fire.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service (ASFR) said it sent three crews to the scene, with firefighters using high-pressure hoses to extinguish the flames over three hours.
In a statement, an Old Down spokesperson said: “We are saddened to report that the closure yesterday of our country park was due to a fire that occurred in our Pets Corner in which some of our beloved animals sadly passed.
“We are relieved to learn that the fire was not deliberate and thank the emergency services for their swift response.”
They added that the closure of the park was for the welfare of their “deeply affected” team members.
ASFR group manager Matthew Osborne said: “We attended a fire in what turned out to be a barn at Old Down Country Park on Saturday, at 03:00 BST.
“We sent three fire engines from Thornbury, Avonmouth and Patchway and firefighters used high pressure hoses.
“We left at around 06:00 BST and then came back for a re-inspection at around 10:00 BST to check we did a thorough job.
“Animals were involved in the incident.”
The country park reopened on Sunday (28 April), but the petting park remains closed for repair work – and is likely to remain shut for several weeks.
