More than 500 animals have died after a fire broke out in a shopping centre in Dallas.

The 579 animals, mostly birds, were in a pet shop at Plaza Latina in the north-west of the Texas city.

Flames from the fire did not reach the animals but they died from smoke inhalation, the Dallas fire and rescue (DFR) spokesperson Jason Evans said.

Chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats also died, he added.

It took about two hours and 45 firefighters to extinguish the fire.

“While DFR personnel did search and attempt rescue, all animals in the shop unfortunately perished due to smoke inhalation,” Evans said.

No people were injured in the fire. The structure of the large, one-storey shopping centre was severely damaged, including a roof that partially collapsed, Evans said.

The shopping centre houses a number of small businesses and was described on its Facebook page as “a place where people can go to eat, and buy all sorts of Latin goods and services”. A post on the page in Spanish asked for prayers for the families who worked there.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known and was under investigation, Evans said.