The Berkeley Animal Shelter is temporarily closed to the public after last Saturday night's fire that sent smoke through parts of the building but left every animal unhurt. City staff say the blaze began in the lobby area where donated blankets, towels and pet supplies are kept and that built-in fire doors and an automatic sprinkler system helped contain it. The fire caused smoke damage in sections of the facility, and officials say the shelter could reopen as soon as midweek.
City Neighborhood Services manager Peter Radu told ABC7 Bay Area that the call came in around 10:40 PM and that his mind went straight to ‘this could be a horrible tragedy,’ as staff moved quickly to secure the animals. According to the Berkeley Fire Department, ceiling sprinklers activated automatically and helped contain the flames before firefighters arrived, protecting about 37 cats and dogs housed upstairs. One donated pet carrier was destroyed and smoke damage spread through parts of the building, but Radu said no animals were injured.
Where the Shelter Is and How to Help
The shelter is listed by Petfinder at 1 Bolivar Drive in Berkeley. As the city’s public shelter, it relies heavily on community donations and volunteer support. Friends of BACS, the nonprofit that supports the shelter, offers information for donors and volunteers on its website. For now, the shelter has asked people to pause public drop-offs while crews assess smoke damage and clean up the affected areas.
Investigation and Next Steps
Fire investigators have labeled the blaze suspicious and are working to determine its cause, city officials told ABC7 Bay Area. The shelter will remain closed to the public while smoke is removed and repairs are made, and city staff say animal care operations are being coordinated with partner organizations so pets continue to receive medical attention. Officials have not set a firm reopening date and are urging neighbors to check Friends of BACS for updates.
