Clearwater, Fla. (970 WFLA) - A fire at a single-family home Saturday killed a cat and sent another to a veterinarian, but the house's human residents all escaped safely, the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department said.
Firefighters arrived at the home on Lake Ave. South just before 7:30 p.m. to find heavy smoke coming from the upper portion of the house. The people who lived there had all gotten out already, but some pets remained inside, according to a news release from Clearwater Fire and Rescue.
One cat died, but firefighters treated another on scene with an oxygen mask before being taken to a local vet for further treatment. Firefighters also rescued several lizards and snakes. The home suffered significant damage, and left the home uninhabitable.
Extra fire crews came to fight the blaze because of its intensity, the news release said, in addition to the mid-July heat and humidity taking a toll on firefighters. One firefighter suffered a hand injury and went to Morton Plant Hospital for treatment.