ASHLAND − Firefighters pulled nine pets safely from a burning Ashland home Monday morning.
The fire department was notified of the blaze through a call that came at 9:49 am, according to Ben Burrer of the Ashland Fire Department. The house was in the 500 block of East Main Street.
“We were advised by the occupant that there were multiple animals inside,” Burrer said.
Firefighters discovered thick smoke coming out of a door, so they went inside to search for the pets, he said.
Pets taken to Claremont Veterinary Clinic
Five rats, two dogs, one cat and one ferret were pulled safely from the house.
“Crews were able to provide oxygen with pet masks for smoke ventilation,” Burrer said, noting masks connect to oxygen tanks and help the animals breath, just like they do the firefighters.
“They’re coned shaped and go over their snout,” Burrer said. “They’re like humans, the smoke doesn’t do good things for them.”
The dogs and the cat were taken to Claremont Veterinary Clinic for observation.
After the animals were rescued, the firefighters turned their attention to the blaze.
“We made a pretty aggressive interior attack on it,” Burrer said.
Red Cross is helping two displaced adults
The fire was confined to one room, but smoke and heat damage were apparent throughout the house. The fire department has not yet determined how much of the house will be considered lost.
They do know, though, that a mother and her adult daughter will not be able to live in the residence until repairs are made. Only one of them was home at the time of the fire.
“Red Cross has been called to assist the family,” Burrer said.
The Ashland Fire Department will continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
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This article originally appeared on the Ashland Times Gazette: Rats, dogs, cat and ferret rescued from burning Ashland home Monday
