FRANKLIN � A Franklin Police officer rescued the animals from a borough pet store after a fire broke Tuesday morning, police said. After receiving a call of a structure fire at Route 23 Pet Center, Officer Rafael Burgos entered the business and removed an undetermined number of animals, which were taken to a local veterinary hospital for care.

FRANKLIN � A Franklin Police officer rescued the animals from a borough pet store after a fire broke Tuesday morning, police said.

After receiving a call of a structure fire at Route 23 Pet Center, Officer Rafael Burgos entered the business and removed an undetermined number of animals, which were taken to a local veterinary hospital for care. Burgos received treatment for smoke inhalation, police said.

Franklin Police received the call of a structure fire at the Route 23 business located between High Street and Rapole Street around 9 a.m.

Burgos and Officer Jeffrey Korger were first to respond to the scene and determined heavy smoke was in the building. Though there were no people in the building, Burgos entered to retrieve the animals.

Franklin Police Detective Nevin Mattessich said that Sussex County Fire Marshal Joseph Inga preliminarily found that the fire did not appear suspicious and that the cause and origin of the fire is most likely related to an electrical issue.

The Franklin Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire, assisted by departments from Ogdensburg, Sparta and Hardyston.

The building sustained smoke and water damage, police said.

A call by the New Jersey Herald to the store was answered by an individual who declined to be identified, but said the store would be closed for a few days for cleanup.

The investigation is ongoing, Mattessich said.

See the Thursday Herald for more on this story.

