Quick action by Monmouth County SPCA employees and volunteers helped save over 200 animals after a dryer fire on Wednesday filled an Eatontown building with smoke.

News 12 New Jersey spoke with the associate executive director who told him two vet techs first noticed the dryer fire and used an extinguisher to put it out.

But it rekindled a short time later.

Both the executive director and the general manager then helped extinguish the small flame but by that time the building was filled with smoke.

They soaked towels with water and placed them under doors where more than 200 animals were located, saving them from an abundance of smoke.

They were later safely removed.

Unfortunately, one cat, which was in active liver failure, succumbed to the smoke and did not survive.

Officials also tell News 12 that a surgery was taking place on a dog when the fire began and those involved were able to safely move the dog and all equipment to another building and successfully finish.

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