Video: Good Samaritans help save animals from fire

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Springfield Fire Chief Russ Thompson says his dispatchers were scrambling to answer a flood of phone calls late Thursday night. The Springfield Animal Hospital on River Street was in flames and people wanted to know how they could help.


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Good Samaritans help save animals from fire Posted: Jan 20, 2017 10:06 AM EST Updated: Jan 20, 2017 7:53 PM EST By Taylor YoungCONNECT Courtesy: Cynthia Prairie Courtesy: Cynthia Prairie SPRINGFIELD, Vt. - Springfield Fire Chief Russ Thompson says his dispatchers were scrambling to answer a flood of phone calls late Thursday night. The Springfield Animal Hospital on River Street was in flames and people wanted to know how they could help. "Our dispatch was being inundated with calls from the community caring for the animals and offering shelter for the animals," Thompson said. When the blaze broke out, five staffers were on duty with two dogs and five cats inside. Animal hospital co-owner Bradley Temple says they all escaped safely thanks, in part, to strangers. "They pulled in as all the employees were bringing the animals out and it's our understanding that they may have turned off the propane tank," Temple said. "That's quite common, citizens basically trying to help and do the right thing at the time and then just disappearing," Thompson said. The chief says when his crew arrived, the good Samaritans were gone. He says the fire was easy to put out but crews spent hours checking for hot spots to prevent further damage to medical equipment. "They went above and beyond what they had to do that were just amazing and we can't thank them enough," Temple said. They still don't know what started the fire or the identity of the men who helped prevent the fire from causing more damage. "It would be nice for them to come forward so we can thank them," Thompson said. The dogs' and cats' owners would probably like to thank them, too.