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  "path": "/news/hertfordshire-animals-killed-fire-the-jungle-box",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-10T16:58:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Scientist breakthrough reveals new way to tell whether your dog is left or right-pawed",
    "Australia sends in helicopters to shoot wild horses from the air to protect 'indigenous plants'",
    "Water voles reintroduced into British nature reserve for first time in decades",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA devastating fire has killed all of the exotic animals housed at The Jungle Box, a jungle-themed soft play centre located on the Watermill Industrial Estate in Buntingford, Hertfordshire.\n\nHertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to the blaze at approximately 3:20am, discovering that none of the small creatures inside had survived.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe venue, which welcomed its first visitors in June of last year, had recently launched an exotic pets section featuring meerkats, snakes, tortoises, iguanas, owls and genets.\n\nThe fire service confirmed that no humans were harmed, as the premises were unoccupied when flames broke out.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAt the height of the incident, firefighters deployed 10 engines alongside an aerial ladder platform to tackle the blaze.\n\nAssistant Chief Fire Officer Darren Cook said: \"Crews worked hard to contain the fire and prevent it spreading to neighbouring units.\n\n\"I'd like to thank all crews for their professionalism and hard work, and fire control colleagues for their calm and efficient handling of the calls.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Sadly, we can confirm that a number of animals were inside the building at the time of the fire and did not survive.\"\n\nThick clouds of smoke rose from the scene, prompting authorities to advise nearby residents to shut their windows and doors.\n\nAuthorities implemented road closures along Aspenden Road and London Road as emergency services worked at the scene.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Scientist breakthrough reveals new way to tell whether your dog is left or right-pawed\n  * Australia sends in helicopters to shoot wild horses from the air to protect 'indigenous plants'\n  * Water voles reintroduced into British nature reserve for first time in decades\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe soft play centre, which had become a popular family destination since opening last summer, saw its exotic pets area destroyed just months after it was introduced to visitors.\n\nHertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has launched an investigation to determine what sparked the blaze in the early hours of the morning.\n\nThe cause remains unknown whilst enquiries continue.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Animals killed after devastating fire at jungle-themed soft play centre"
}