A Californian pet and animal feed store has been saved from destruction by a fish tank.
An electrical fault in equipment on one of the Oakhurst Feed and Pet Supply store's tanks started a blaze within the shop, but the store was saved from fiery destruction when one of the nearby aquariums burst due to the heat, extinguishing the potential conflagration.
Smoke was spotted coming from the store early in the morning by staff at nearby businesses who immediately called local fire services, but despite a rapid response by the time fire-fighters entered the building they were confronted only by smoke damage and smouldering debris.
The fire-fighters brought the shop's animal stock, which included rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, mice and reptiles outside for fresh air, but the only casualties were the unfortunate fish that were living in the tank that doused the flames.
The store was able to open the following day after a thorough clean-up and total damage is estimated to be around US$2000, but the store's owners were grateful for the tank's watery intervention that prevented the potential total destruction of the business.
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