Firefighters Save Unconscious Cat from Murrieta House Fire

The Murrieta Fire Department’s third feline rescue in as many months is keeping firefighters vigilant, a spokesman said Thursday.

The latest feat occurred at about 9 a.m. Thursday on the scene of a house fire sparked by a clothes dryer, said Matt Corelli, a Murrieta fire engineer/paramedic.

Firefighters had responded to the 23000 block of Carneros Court to find smoke and flames showing from the second story of a home.

“After crews confirmed the occupants were out of the house, they attacked the fire and during a detailed search, found the homeowners’ cat unconscious behind a dresser,” Corelli said.

The family’s furry friend was immediately treated with a pet oxygen mask that is kept on Murrieta fire engines as part of their medical equipment.

“The owner of the pet was at scene and gave crews approval to take the injured cat to an emergency veterinarian where the animal was treated and is expected to fully recover,” Corelli said.

The department’s pet oxygen masks—donated in 2012 by California Veterinary Specialists—were crucial in saving another furry family friend that was found unconscious during a Sept. 18 house fire.

Corelli said the residents in Thursday's incident were displaced by the fire that resulted in about $50,000 worth of damages to the second story of their 3,000-square-foot home.

“The Murrieta Fire Department again wants to remind the community members that maintenance of dryers and their vents are important for preventing devastating fires,” Corelli said.

Last month, a Murrieta woman suffered burns when her clothes dryer caught fire.