Alessandra Navidad

The Arizona Animal Welfare League evacuated several animals as the propane fire broke out in Phoenix.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League’s main shelter was evacuated on Thursday after a propane yard fire broke out near 40th and Van Buren streets. The blaze caused propane tanks to go flying in several directions, creating a hazardous situation for the surrounding area.

Alessandra Navidad is the president and CEO of the shelter.

"Our medical team had already evacuated, and we were in the warehouse and then we started evacuating after that to the education building, which is across the street. We were able to pull the about eighty animals that were closest to the fire," she said.

Staff transported the animals to safety. As for the shelter itself, part of the roof and some of the shade structures were damaged by the fire.