Three People Burned, Dogs Killed When Brush Fire Spreads to Dog Rescue Kennel

Three people were burned, one person suffered a dog bite and three dogs died when a brush fire spread to a dog rescue kennel facility in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County fire officials.

Residents began arriving, looking for ways to help as the dog rescue went up in flames.

"The fire was still going, and people were showing up, saying, 'Hey, how can we help?'" said Rescue Oasis Kennel owner Dave Schroeder.

The fire was extinguished Wednesday after damaging a structure and charring about two acres of brush just west of the 14 Freeway. Aerial video showed charred brush adjacent to the freeway and kennel area, which includes several fenced enclosures.

Fire officials originally said five dogs were killed and five were injured, but the rescue's owner said later that three were killed. Aaron Reyes with Animal Control said 44 dogs were at Rescue Oasis at the time of the fire. The surviving animals were evacuated to other kennels or reunited with their owners.

Four human patients were treated -- three with burn injuries and one with a dog bite. At least one person suffered second-degree burns.

Details regarding a cause of the fire were not immediately available, but fire officials said it could have been as simple as a driver flicking a cigarette out the window.