Sebastián Arias, a homeless man, did not hesitate to come to save the animals from a shelter in Lima. Arias had previously worked at the recycling factory and knew that a neighbor used her home as an animal shelter, so she knew how many animals there were and where they were located.
The causes of the fire are being investigated. According to local press reports, the origin may have been an electrical fault at the recycler, which was operating without proper permits.