Lawrence firefighters respond to a fire at Pet World, 711 W. 23rd, Monday, May 25, 2015.

A longtime Lawrence pet store will reopen its doors this month after it was forced to close by a devastating fire in May of last year.

Pet World will open on Jan. 23 in Suite 26 of The Malls Shopping Center at 711 W. 23rd St., said co-owner Sherry Emerson.

In the early afternoon of May 25, 2015, firefighters were called to Pet World for reports of a fire and heavy smoke.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, but not without major damage to the building. No people were injured, but many animals — including birds, reptiles, one cat and other small creatures — were killed. The store never disclosed the exact number of animals.

Investigators deemed the fire the result of a malfunction in the breaker panel.

Since the fire the business has occupied a temporary location in suite 12 of the same mall.

The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan 24., Emerson said. Starting on Jan. 25, the store will be open weekdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

The business is also accepting applications for youth volunteers through the end of January, Emerson said.

More information can be found online at petworldlawrence.com.

Correction: The headline on this story has been edited to accurately reflect the time passed since the fire.