Every now and then, we see something out of the ordinary when driving.
Something no one would expect to see on Interstate 69 in Indiana would be five zebras, four camels, and a miniature horse.
However, that's what drivers might have spotted in the early hours of this past Saturday after a semitrailer caught fire at around 2 AM.
Thankfully, state trooper Edward Titus was patrolling the area and spotted the burning vehicle.
With the help of Grant County Sheriff's deputy Joshua Kennedy and the truck's driver, Armando C. Alvarez of Sarasota, Florida, Titus managed to get the animals off the rapidly burning trailer and bring them to safety.
The Grant County Sheriff's Office of Marion, Indiana posted pictures of themselves and the animals to their Facebook page, initially as a warning that the northbound interstate would be closed due to the fire.
In addition to some startling pictures of the semitrailer aflame, the sheriff's office provided some close-ups of the heroic officers alongside the zebras and camels, as well as some shots of the animals happily grazing onthe highway median.
Thankfully, none of the animals were harmed during the fire, nor was Alvarez.
While both Titus and Kennedy were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, they were both eventually released.
The northbound lanes were also reopened by 6:30 AM.
The Sheriff's office later posted more pictures to their Facebook page, highlighting how the community "rallied together" to bring the beautiful creatures to safety.
"Grateful for our tight-knit community rallying together during challenging times."
"Let's continue spreading the positivity!"
The Grant County Sheriff's Office also shared a video of the incident to their Facebook page, once again praising the officers for their speedy rescue, as well as their compassion:
"Today on I-69, a trailer carrying animals caught fire. 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!"
🚒 Today on I-69, a trailer carrying animals caught fire. 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! 🐾❤️ #AnimalHeroes #FirstResponderLove | Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, INwww.facebook.com
A preliminary investigation cited "equipment failure" for starting the fire.
Steve Trump, director of the Mizpah Shrine Circus, disclosed that the truck's crew stopped the vehicle on the highway when they became aware of an issue, only to discover the fire, which rapidly spread.
While the truck carrying the animals was destroyed in the fire, another truck was sent from Fort Wayne to bring the animals to their intended destination.
The Sheriff's department received a standing ovation from the Facebook community for coming to the animals' rescue.
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Grant County Sheriff's Office - Marion, IN/Facebook
Trump said the animals were being transported from Florida to Indiana for about a month's worth of weekend performances as part of a fundraiser for the Mizpah Shrine Circus, specifically the upkeep of the Shrine Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Thankfully, the animals all made it with more than enough time to make their first performances, with Trump going on to say he was "thrilled that things worked out that way."
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