Fire broke out at animal rescue with up to 60 cats inside in Lealman: LFR

LEALMAN, Fla. — A fire broke out at an animal rescue in Lealman with dozens of cats inside, Friday.

The Lealman Fire District (LFD) were called to Happy Tailz Cat Rescue's mobile home located at the 5000 block of 80th Way N.

One victim was rescued and taken to the hospital, but has since been released. A firefighter was also taken to the hospital for medical evaluation.

WATCH NOW: Fire broke out at animal rescue with up to 60 cats inside in Lealman: LFR

Happy Tailz is a nonprofit organization that takes in cats who need medical help.

Volunteer Stacy Prevost said the the mobile home housed up to 60 cats and three dogs, but more than a dozen cats passed away.

"It’s a tragedy, it’s like the worst thing that could happen, ever," said Prevost. "This is any rescues worst nightmare. We - nobody wants this. A fire is literally - we’d rather deal with flooding; cats can get up out of flooding. Fire is fire."

Now, char, soot and ashes encompass most of the animal rescue facility.

"Unfortunately, it’s going to be torn down," said Prevost. "It’s not salvageable."

Prevost said a fire from a shed in the backyard of the neighbors house spread to their rescue center.

"The main area that was burnt was the back corner, and that was the kitchen," said Prevost. "And that’s where all the medication, all the prescription food, just all of the stuff the cats medically need was in the kitchen, and that is gone."

"Human lives, we want to save as many as we can, but like those are her babies and we don’t care, we want to go save our children," said Prevost.

Prevost said six personal cats died from smoke inhalation, while the others died by humane euthanasia. She said they couldn’t breathe on their own and didn’t want the cats to suffer.

However, three dogs and 47 cats were rescued and taken into vet care centers. And now, she said they are all expected to survive.

Most of the day saturday was spent trapping the last few cats that were still missing. They are looking for one

Through a conversation with the fire officials, Prevost said they believe the fire may have been electrical in nature.

"I think that this is an unfortunate act of God," said Prevost. "We make sure to take the active steps to ensure that a fire doesn’t happen but we can’t control the weather, we can’t control our surroundings."

Despite the devastation, she said she is not letting this fire stop them from helping cats.

They will keep fundraising and looking for a new place for the cats to live. They have an Amazon wishlist and ways to donate, here.

"We made a commitment to these cats," said Prevost. "Like I know they are just a cat, but they are not ‘just a cat’ to some of us."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.