A Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson says in a statement that the 579 animals in the pet shop at Plaza Latina in Northwest Dallas died from smoke inhalation Friday morning.

Dallas Animal Services removed 579 dead animals from an exotic pet shop inside Plaza Latina Bazaar, a shopping center in Northwest Dallas, following the extinguishing of a fire on

Dallas Animal Services removed a total of 579 animals, including small birds, chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats.

Dallas firefighter and paramedic Paulo Bicahlo and his crew sprang into action to rescue animals from a pet store at Plaza Latina shopping mall after a fire broke out on Friday. Despite their valiant efforts,

Most of the animals died of smoke inhalation, officials said. They included birds, chickens, hamsters, dogs and cats.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said a total of 579 animals, mostly birds, died. At least a dozen others were rescued and treated in the parking lot.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said the fire caused moderate damage to the home and is believed to have started near the back of it. The exact cause will remain undetermined pending the Medical Examiner's final ruling on the victim's cause of death, DFR said.

Dallas authorities are investigating what caused a fire that burned a Dallas shopping center Friday morning and killed more than 500 animals. CW39's Sharron Melton explains.

A total of 579 animals died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a shopping center in Dallas, Texas, last week. According to multiple media outlets, the tragic two-alarm fire occurred at the Plaza Latina Bazaar,