BOSTON -- A quick-thinking employee of a pet grooming business managed to save all the animals from a fire that killed two Boston firefighters in West Roxbury Wednesday night.

NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that the animals from the Continental Shoppe were transported to a nearby veterinary hospital. Meghan Gibbons is credited with saving all the animals almost single-handedly.

"In such a tragedy, to save the time to get the animals out, it was great thing," said Susan Warne, a friend of one of the dog owners.

The fire started next door to the shop at Tai Ho Mandarin Restaurant.

Twenty-five dogs and a cat were in cages in the basement of the shop.

"I'm not surprised that she did that. I think it is an amazing thing," said Ilene Segal of the Parkway Veterinary Hospital.

Jack Kennedy, the owner of the shop, said his thoughts are with the firefighters.

"It is pretty much about the firefighters right now and their families," he said.

Most of the owners of the pets were on vacation when the fire broke out.

"She got everybody out and safely. Some of them smelled a little bit like smoke, but they were all in pretty good condition. No one really suffered from smoke inhalation. Everyone was healthy and happy," Segal said.

Gibbons declined to be interviewed.