Normal Firefighters help revive cat after apartment fire

NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — The Normal Fire Department helped revive a cat rescued from an apartment fire early Thursday morning.

According to information from the department, Firefighters responded to apartments near Vernon Avenue and School Street at about 3 a.m. A skillet of oil caught fire and set the apartment ablaze.

A smoke detector alerted the resident, who quickly escaped and called 911. When firefighters arrived on the scene they saw heavy smoke in the lower level apartment.

While extinguishing the fire, fire crews searched the apartment for potential victims and located an unconscious cat, without signs of life. Firefighters used a pet oxygen mask and compressions to revive the cat and returned it to its owner, who can follow up with a veterinarian.

The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes.

“This is a prime example of smoke alarms waking up the occupant and giving them enough time to escape.  With heavy smoke from a growing fire in the apartment, we were minutes away from a different outcome had the alarms not sounded,” said Matt Swaney, Public Information Officer for Normal Fire Department.    He adds, “Obviously, the toxic smoke was enough to cause the near-death of a pet, so if the smoke alarms had not worked, the tenant may have been overcome by the smoke which could have lead to a deadly outcome.”

The apartment tenant was displaced due to the fire and the apartment managers, Young America Realty, are working to find the tenant for alternative living arrangements.

No injuries were reported to any other occupant of the building. The fire department encourages people never to leave food unattended when cooking.

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