African Safari Wildlife Park fire: 10 animals killed At Ohio On Thanksgiving

Ten animals were killed when a fire broke out Thursday at the African Safari Wildlife Park in northern Ohio, Danbury Township police said.

Firefighters were called to the Port Clinton park at 6:15 p.m. after reports of a fire at a barn housing animals, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and park officials said.

"Our team, they work so hard to care for these animals, and it's just gut-wrenching that this could happen," said Hunt. "Our team works so hard every day to care for these animals. It's just heartbreaking."

Three giraffes, three red river hogs, three bongos and a springbok had been inside the barn before the fire, Officer Carolyn DeMore with the Danbury Township Police told reporters. A bongo is a large forest antelope and the springbok is a medium-sized, gazelle-like antelope.

Animals at the park were usually kept in a heated barn overnight during winter months under supervision. Police rescued a zebra, which was trying to escape from the fire. Officials also found a giraffe in a pond nearby and the park employees are working to return it to its enclosure, WBNS reported.

"We are grateful that our staff is safe and no one was injured, but the loss of the wildlife that we care for every day is tragic for our team members who love these animals," park officials said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The fire was not fully contained Thursday night and firefighters were expected to continue battling the blaze overnight, Danbury Township Fire Chief Keith Kahler said.

"Our African Safari Wildlife Park team is devastated by the loss of animals housed in a barn destroyed by fire that was discovered early Thanksgiving evening. We are grateful that our staff is safe and no one was injured, but the loss of the wildlife that we care for every day is tragic for our team members who love these animals.

The park will be closed Friday as the staff mourns the loss of life and cares for the other animals living on the property.

An investigation was underway by the Danbury Township Fire Department to determine how the fire broke out.

The African Safari Wildlife Park was established in 1969. It’s located about 37 miles southeast of Toledo, Ohio.