Police say fire at Red Creek Wildlife Center an accident
A fire that destroyed the main clinic building at Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill County and killed dozens of rescued animals has been ruled accidental, according to state police.
An investigation into Monday morning’s fire has been concluded by a state police marshal, but no further details were given about what started the blaze.
The mobile home that burned housed wildlife including turtles, birds, porcupines, opossums and snakes that were being rehabilitated, troopers said. None of the wildlife in that building survived the fire, but animals being housed elsewhere on the property were not harmed, and there were no people injured.
Damage was estimated to be more than $50,000.
Red Creek now needs help to care for the animals that survived and to continue its work going forward, and is asking for donations.
The center is a few miles from Schuylkill Haven in Wayne Township and is a licensed wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility that treats about 4,000 injured and abandoned animals
each year, including foxes, tortoises and bald eagles.
For years it has assisted with wildlife rescues across Pennsylvania and provided education and certification to wildlife capture and transport volunteers throughout the state.
The fire started about 8 a.m. Monday at the building at Moon Hill Drive and Deiberts Valley Road. Photos posted online show the building engulfed in flames and smoke.
Red Creek is scheduled to break ground on a new facility
in 2023, and officials said they will make an announcement about those plans.
But the center needs monetary donations in the meantime, officials said, because it lost its freezer and the animal food being stored there. It is seeking donations through its website, redcreekwildlifecenter.com.
Other Pennsylvania rehabilitation centers are assisting with food, medicine and care for the remaining animals, Red Creek officials said.
Fresh Start Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization also based in Schuylkill County, began a fundraiser Monday to help Red Creek buy animal food and supplies it badly needs.
Fresh Start said it also sent a veterinarian to help with the surviving animals.
“They do amazing work, and our area cannot afford to not have them around,” a Fresh Start official said in a video posted on its Facebook page. “When we get neglect calls and they are wild (animals), these people step up and help.”
The goal is to raise at least $10,000.
“It’s a very sad situation,” Fresh Start officials said. “They do great things for all of the wild animals.”