A massive fire tore through a local landmark Friday in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Flames destroyed the Flint Hardware Store, which had been in business for more than two decades.
The owner says he managed to save his two parrots and his dog, but not his cat. He would bring his pets to work.
"It is sad," said owner Manuel Botelho. "It is the end of my work life."
It was a customer who noticed the smoke near the roof Friday afternoon.
When firefighters arrived, they had trouble finding where the smoke and flames were coming form.
As they opened up the ceilings, the flames would take off.
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Part of the duct work collapsed, hitting a firefighter in the face.
He had minor injuries.
"The ground actually shook," said neighborhood resident Dawn Fernandes. "I thought I was in an earthquake."
The owner says he's grateful he saved his birds and his dog, but he's devastated about his cat and he's not sure about rebuilding.
"It was my life," said Botelho. "It's where I make my living."
Firefighters aren't sure how the fire started.
The owner believes it began somewhere in the heating system.
Residents of two homes on either side of the hardware store were evacuated as a precaution.
Their homes sustained damage to the siding from the heat.
