Major fire at Chester Zoo threatens the lives of thousands of visitors and animals

By Rodolfo Vieira

Dec 15, 2018

01:22 P.M.

What was supposed to be a fun day for several families ended up being a tragic one as a fire broke out in Chester Zoo's Monsoon Forest habitat.

Founded by the Mottershead family and opened to the public in 1930, the zoo is currently a much-loved attraction in Cheshire, England, but visitors were shocked by the sight of the flames.

Through its official Twitter page, the Chester Zoo informed that visitors were evacuated and their response team was working alongside the emergency services.

The zoo is currently closed as firefighters are trying to bring the situation under control. So far, there is no indication of how the fire started.

The zoo staff immediately sprung into action as soon as the dark curtain of smoke rose into the sky and their main priorities were the lives of the people inside the zoo as well as the animals.

HOME TO SEVERAL SPECIES

The facility currently houses over 21,000 animals, including endangered species, and animal teams are now working to move all creatures away from the flames.

Visitors were visibly scared but were helped by employees, who told them to move to the other side of the zoo in order to leave the premises safe and sound.

PRIORITIES SET STRAIGHT

The blaze took over the Monsoon Forest habitat, known as 'the largest indoor zoo exhibit in UK history,' but no casualties have been registered since the fire broke out.

According to the zoo's official statement, the animal teams are assessing the situation and 'critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and other mammals are all accounted for.'

CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION

They are now hoping to account for all other species living within the facility, which has brought so much joy to millions of visitors over the last 88 years.

Fire has an incredibly powerful destructive force and should not be underestimated; a few months ago, its strength was felt by thousands of people across California, who lost everything they had to the flames.

The Cal Fire was considered the sixth most destructive fire in the history of California and had people and animals running for their lives as firefighters tried their best to put it out as fast as possible.