QUINCY, MI (WTVB) – The future of the Branch County Animal Shelter is in limbo today after the facility south of Quincy in Algansee Township was heavily damaged by fire late Thursday afternoon. The six dogs in the kennels at the building when the blaze broke out were rescued by Quincy Fire Chief Kurt Barve and Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Foster.
Heavy flames were showing on the west end of the shelter located off South Ray Quincy Road when Quincy firemen reached the scene around 5:30 p.m. It took more than two hours before the fire was declared out and was brought under control as Quincy was being assisted by the Coldwater, Allen, and Fremont, Indiana Fire Departments.
Barve said they suspect that a problem with the liquid propane fueled incinerator located just outside the west end of the building caused the fire. According to Barve, the shelter maintenance department said the incinerator was acting up Thursday afternoon but after a further check of the machine, it appeared to be fine and they left for the day.
The Branch County Humane Society arrived to assist putting up the dogs for shelter. County Animal Control Officer Ernie Baker said going forward, they will have to find out the extent of the insurance coverage on the building while he meets with Branch County Sheriff John Pollack to see where they can now hold dogs. Baker said it will require, in his words, some quick planning.
The facility is known as the Coldwater Sunrise Rotary Club Animal Shelter after club members devoted thousands of hours of volunteer labor over a 3-year period and raised more than $275,000 for the project that was completed in 1991.
