Firefighters from the Spring Hill Fire Department in Tennessee rescued two cats and a dog from a burning third-floor apartment, reports say. The fire department revealed that the three pets were home alone when the fire broke out. Apparently, one of the cats started the blaze.
Two cats and a dog rescued from apartment fire in Tennessee
On Monday, March 18 at around 11:30 a.m., the Spring Hill Fire crew swiftly responded to the scene after receiving reports of an apartment up in flames. According to FOX17 News, firefighters quickly evacuated the two felines and a dog before combating the fire.
Thanks to the fire crew’s rapid response and effective sprinkler system, they managed to contain the inferno before it led to casualties and spread to neighboring units. Luckily, no injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
Unfortunately, the building sustained fire damage amounting to $150,000. To add to that, the homes beneath the burning apartment sustained water damage resulting from the activation of the sprinkler system.
Investigations into the cause of the fire revealed that one of the cats accidentally turned the stove, igniting the blaze.
Cases of cats and dogs starting house fires have become common in the recent past. In fact, the American Red Cross reports that pets start almost 1,000 house fires every year.
Given these alarming findings, it’s important for you as a cat owner to take fire safety precautions to prevent your beloved feline from becoming a fire starter. Some of these precautions include:
- Whenever you plan on leaving your cat home alone, consider removing or covering your stove’s knobs.
- Ensure to extinguish any open flames, for instance, candles, before leaving your home.
- Keep flammable items, such as dry table cloths and paper towels, away from the stove.
- When at home, try to constantly check on your cat to ensure they aren’t curiously messing with the stove or electrical appliances on your countertops.
