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Zebras, camels rescued after circus trailer catches fire on Indiana highway

A Grant County deputy and Indiana state trooper went into the circus trailer in flames and rescued five zebras, four camels and a miniature horse.

By Emilee Speck Source FOX Weather

Troopers, deputies rescue Shrine Circus animals from trailer fire

Scenes from Interstate 69 in Indiana where nearly a dozen circus animals were rescued from a vehicle fire. (Images and video: Grant County Sheriff's Office)

GRANT COUNTY, Indiana – A circus made an unscheduled appearance along an Indiana interstate early Saturday morning after a semi-truck and trailer transporting nearly a dozen animals caught fire.

Indiana State Police said in a news release, that Trooper Edward Titus happened upon the trailer engulfed in flames on Interstate 69 at mile marker 264.

The 57-year-old driver from Sarasota, Florida made it out of the vehicle. The trooper and a Grant County deputy learned there were animals part of the Shrine Circus inside the trailer. 

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Grant County Deputy Joshua Kennedy and Titus went into the trailer in flames and rescued five zebras, four camels and a miniature horse. Both Titus and Kennedy were treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital. 

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Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus. (Image:  (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

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Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus.  (Image:  (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

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Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus.   (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

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Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus.   (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

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Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus.   (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

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A Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy takes a selfie with a camel from the Shrine Circus after the animal was rescued from a trailer fire in Indiana.  (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

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Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus.  (Image:  (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

Trooper said the animals were unharmed and officers kept them calm until another truck from the Shrine Circus could collect the animals. 

Photos and video shared by the Grant County Sheriff's Office show the black-and-white zebras and camels on the interstate being led to safety by officers. 

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"Not only did our first responders rescue them swiftly, but they also went above and beyond to keep the animals calm. True compassion in action!" the Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. 

Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office helped rescued a group of Zebras, camels and a miniature horse from the Shrine Circus.   (Grant County Sheriff's Office)

Multiple other agencies, including the Upland and Matthews volunteer fire departments, responded to put out the blaze. 

According to the Shrine Circus website, the circus has a scheduled performance in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Sunday.