Ohio Firefighters Resuscitate Cat After House Fire

Sept. 13--MIDDLETOWN -- Middletown firefighters resuscitated a cat they found in a house fire Friday afternoon in the 2000 block of Crescent Boulevard, said Fire Chief Paul Lolli.

He said the cat lived.

When firefighters arrived at 2 p.m., they reported light smoke showing from the residence. They quickly put out the fire in the kitchen, according to the report. The fire caused about $2,500 in damages.

The residents told fire officials their power went out, then they went to doctor appointments. When they got home, there was smoke in the kitchen.

Fire officials believe that when the residents left, they didn't turn off the stove, and that's what caused the fire. There was damage to the stove, cabinets, contents and ceiling.

This past summer, a bill that allows first responders to provide medical treatment to dogs and cats unanimously passed out of the Ohio General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. John Kasich.

Pets who are often considered a part of a family "and they should receive treatment if necessary or life-threatening situations," Meg Stephenson, executive director of the Animal Friends Humane Society, previously told the Journal-News.

The bill would allow first responders to open and manually maintain an airway, administer oxygen, control a hemorrhage, and -- if authorized -- administer naloxone hydrochloride, also known as Narcan.

"The intent is to allow emergency responders to provide basic first aid so the animal can be safely transported to a veterinarian for further care and treatment," Jack Advent, executive director of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, previously told the Journal-News. "The bill simply allows animals to receive critical care at the earliest possible moment, which is in the best interest of the animal."

House Bill 187 had the support by several organizations, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Ohio Voters for Companion Animals, Inc., the Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association and Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.

This article contains previous reporting by Staff Writer Michael D. Pitman.

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