Shelbyville house fire, several animals reported dead

Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 5:41 PM

By Staff report

Despite efforts at the scene most animals at the scene of a Saturday afternoon fire were reported dead.

In the 1 p.m. hour, the Shelbyville Fire Department was dispatched to the 700 block of Montgomery Street for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the residence and were met with challenging conditions inside the home.

Firefighters worked quickly to remove multiple cats and dogs from the structure. Shelbyville Fire Department Paramedics, alongside the Shelbyville Police Department, provided several minutes of oxygen therapy and performed animal CPR in an effort to save the animals. Unfortunately, despite the extensive lifesaving efforts, most of the animals did not survive.

The Shelbyville Fire Department reported the incident involved close coordination between Shelby County 911 dispatchers, the Shelbyville Police Department, Shelbyville-Shelby County Animal Control, and the Shelbyville Fire Department.

No cause was listed in the initial release.