Madison FD's Pet Gear Used in Cat Rescue

Madison firefighters Kyle Wickman and Jack Dunne were ventilating a smoke-filled apartment in Chatham on Thursday evening after responding to assist at a fire there, and, as the smoke cleared, Wickman saw a cat on a couch.

He picked up the cat, which was struggling to breathe, and ran the pet outside where he handed it to Madison firefighter James Blair.

Blair quickly got one of the pet air masks donated to the , and started giving the pet air.

A friend of the cat's owner said she took the cat to a vet and they were waiting to see how the pet—named Nala—would fare.

The friend, Paula Lorditch, , "If it wasn't for that mask, her circumstances could have been more dire."

A woman and her daughter escaped the fire, which , and sent the woman to hospital with smoke inhalation.

Chief Peter Glogolich said the fire was electrical and occurred near the television set.

In April, a local animal lover . The anonymous donor was aware of Madison firefighters' rescue of a cat named Corona in July. Firefighters .

Madison Fire Chief Lou DeRosa has said having the equipment paid off.