Circus animals headed to Fort Wayne rescued from truck fire

GRANT CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State Police, along with local authorities in Grant County, say that ten circus animals were not hurt after a fire broke out in the trailer they were being transported in. The animals were part of the Shrine Circus that was making its way to Fort Wayne for weekend performances.

Indiana State Police say that around 2 a.m. on Saturday, a 57-year-old Florida man was driving northbound on I-69 close to the 263-mile marker when he became aware of an issue in the trailer and got out to see what was going on. By that time, the fire had spread quickly. Officers arrived to find the 2012 Volvo semi truck fully engulfed in flames. Officers located the driver and the five zebras, four camels, and a miniature horse were rescued and moved to another truck.

Two officers were treated and released for smoke inhalation. No one else was hurt although it did take hours to clean up the interstate and the northbound lanes of 69 were closed for several hours.

The animals were taken to Fort Wayne where they performed with the Mizpah Shrine Circus at the Coliseum over the weekend.

Indiana State Police released the following:

Saturday morning, just after 2:00 a.m., Trooper Edward Titus was patrolling I-69 near the 263 mile-marker. While on patrol, Trooper Titus observed that the cab of a 2012 Volvo semi-truck and trailer was engulfed in flames. Trooper Titus located the driver, who had safely exited the vehicle. The driver was identified to be Armando C. Alvarez, 57, from Sarasota, Florida.

While approaching the semi, Trooper Titus learned that the trailer was loaded with animals from the Shrine Circus. Trooper Titus and Grant County Deputy Joshua Kennedy entered the trailer and were able to rescue the animals. Trooper Titus, Deputy Kennedy, and a member of the Shrine Circus rescued five zebras, four camels, and a miniature horse. Additional officers on the scene were able to secure all the animals until other trucks from the Shrine Circus arrived.

After the fire was extinguished, crews began cleaning up the scene. All lanes were opened at approximately 6:30 a.m. During the road closure, traffic was diverted from I-69 northbound at the 259 mile-marker to State Road 22. The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper James Wilkison revealed that an equipment failure was the cause of the fire.

Trooper Titus and Deputy Kennedy were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation and later released without further injury. Mr. Alvarez and all animals were uninjured.

The Indiana State Police Peru Post was assisted by other members of the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post, Indiana State Police Pendleton Post, the Marion Police Department, Markel Police Department, Warren Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Upland Volunteer Fire Department, Matthews Volunteer Fire Department, Indiana Department of Transportation, Losure’s Towing, and Marion Health.