Owner re-enters burning shelter to save animals

Flames damaged a Beaumont animal shelter and displaced its three occupants, sending one person to a hospital with minor injuries, authorities said today.

According to Beaumont Police, the owner went back into the shelter while it was on fire to save animals.

The fire was reported at 7:06 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Fourth Street, the Riverside County Fire Department said. Heavy smoke and flames were visible when firefighters arrived, fire officials said.

Firefighters put out the flames at 7:34 p.m., officials said.

One civilian was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and a dog died in the fire, officials said in a tweet. That person’s connection to the stricken home was not immediately spelled out. The rest of the shelter animals were rescued from the blaze.

Two adults and one juvenile were displaced by the blaze, fire officials said.