How Metro Richmond Zoo has been recovering one year after fire

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — June marked one year since a devastating fire broke out at Metro Richmond Zoo in Chesterfield County.

Chesterfield Fire and EMS crews responded to the Zoo for the fire at around 10 p.m. on June 4, 2023 . They found several buildings on fire and worked to put it out.

Firefighters and zoo staff rescued nine animals, including a bat and a penguin, but the fire claimed the life of one animal.

“We feel it was caused by a malfunction of one of our golf cart chargers,” Taylor Andelin, who works at Metro Richmond Zoo, said. “It was pretty serious. The areas that were affected were like core operations buildings for the zoo.”

Charred remains were all that were left of the buildings that once stood after that night, marking a long road to recovery ahead.

“We were able to rebuild these facilities, they were kind of too small in the first place,” Andelin said. “The new animal hospital [is] larger, we expanded it forward, we actually raised the ceiling as well. So, there’s more space all around.”

They also rebuilt the maintenance workshop and zookeeper room, both of which were damaged by the fire. They were also able to recently recognize the firefighters who responded that night .

“We had an appreciation event, where they were able to walk around the zoo with their families. We had dinner and they met some of the animals they actually saved that night in the fire,” Andelin said.

Andelin said they have been thankful for the way the community has rallied around them.

“We’ll always remember it. But we’re grateful for the things that we learned and our new facilities that we now have to enjoy moving forward,” Andelin said.

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