Dogs, Cats Evacuated In Blaze Near RivCo Animal Shelter

THOUSAND PALMS, CA — A singlewide trailer at the Animal Samaritans Animal Hospital, next door to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, caught fire Tuesday morning, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire reports. The building is on the border of Thousand Palms and Cathedral City.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m., firefighters arrived in the 72300 block of Varner Road, where a vacant single-wide mobile home was on fire. According to a video from the scene, numerous vehicles were also burned during the incident.

"Approximately 30 cats and 50 dogs have been safely evacuated from an animal shelter adjacent to the mobile home as a precaution," Cal Fire spokesperson Terra Fernandez told Patch. It was not immediately clear where the animals were relocated.

Both SoCal Gas and Southern California Edison were called to the scene to assist firefighters, and no injuries were reported to either people or animals from the fire.

Firefighters contained the blaze by 10:30 a.m., and crews were expected to remain at the scene until 1 p.m. for salvage and overhaul.

The Animal Samaritans Animal Hospital was slated to reopen for business after an extensive closure and remodel on May 5. It was unclear what led to the blaze in the trailer.

Animal Samaritans has been supporting animals since 1978, offering a full suite of veterinary services at our two state-of-the-art clinics, priced for affordability. It is next door to, but is not a part of, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.