All cats and 30 dogs in pet boarding house die in Australia bush fire that ruined dozens of homes

No cats survived the fire while 30 dogs were rescued by firefighters

CFS volunteer Lukas Lane-Geldmacher rescues a dog from the Tea Tree Gully Boarding Kennel and Cattery in Inglewood, South Australia (Rex Features)

Dozens of cats and dogs have perished in a massive bush fire that broke out and destroyed around 26 homes in southern Australia.

The wildfire that forced thousands of people to flee their houses in the Adelaide Hills after it had started on Friday had also killed pets that were lodging in Tea Tree Gully Boarding Kennels and Cattery.

Out of the dogs, 40 were saved by firefighters while tragically no cats survived the blaze, according to abc news, which is thought to be the worst in the country in 30 years. The exact number of cats that died is not yet known.

Twenty-nine people have been injured and admitted to hospital with illnesses such as severe asthma, state Premier Jay Weatherill confirmed, but luckily no deaths were reported amid the fire that ripped through 31,000 acres (12,500 hectares).

One serious injury was reported by Network Ten television news of a farmer who is suffering from suspected spinal injuries sustained while trying to protect his property. Around 13 volunteer firefighters out of a crew of 200 had sustained breathing difficulties from the smoke.

Around 37 families have been put up in temporary accommodation while officials assess the full extent of the damage caused by the flames. Forty-one outbuildings including sheds and shacks had also burned down. The number of affected households is expected to increase by the end of the survey.

The surviving animals were taken to nearby vets for treatment before being returned to owners or kept in care until their return.

Officials have warned that erratic flare-ups causing trees to burn and fall could occur over the next few weeks after rainfall on Saturday helped to control the flames while firefighters hosed them down.

Destructive wildfires are common across much of Australia during the summer months. In 2009, wildfires killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in Victoria.

Additional reporting by Associated Press