More than 500 animals were killed when a fire broke out at a northwest Dallas shopping center Jan. 3, officials said.

Most of the animals died of smoke inhalation, officials said. They included birds, chickens, hamsters, dogs and cats.

A devastating fire at Plaza Latina shopping center in Dallas led to the deaths of 579 animals, mainly small birds, due to smoke inhalation. Dallas Fire-Rescue was unable to save the animals despite extinguishing the blaze with the efforts of 45 firefighters.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said a total of 579 animals, mostly birds, died. At least a dozen others were rescued and treated in the parking lot.

Dallas authorities are investigating what caused a fire that burned a Dallas shopping center Friday morning and killed more than 500 animals. CW39's Sharron Melton explains.