Firefighters Save Pets From Flames Across Connecticut

When New London Fire Chief Vernon Skau walked into a burned apartment 20 years ago, he found something unexpected on the floor: a listless boa constrictor in front of a broken case. The snake survived, and Skau learned an important lesson about the variety of lives firefighters save.

Across Connecticut, firefighters regularly rescue pets during emergencies, treating them with the same urgency they bring to human victims. On July 27, Danielson firefighters responded to a two-alarm blaze on Hawkins Street where roughly 30 cats were trapped inside a multi-family home.

Most of the cats didn't make it, but firefighter Kyle McNeill and a South Killingly colleague found one still breathing near a back door. They pulled the cat out and handed it to a good Samaritan who rushed it to safety.

"Human life comes first, then firefighter safety, then property, then animals," says Danielson Fire Chief Keven McNeill. "But every fire is different, and pets are like family members in many cases."

The rescue protocol is simple but effective. Firefighters search for pets during their primary sweep for residents, then conduct a more targeted search once the structure is safe. They use child-sized oxygen masks or ones specially designed for animal snouts, and sometimes perform CPR.

Norwich Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Merchant says trapped pets have natural survival advantages. They instinctively stay low where smoke is thinner and squeeze into hiding spots humans can't reach.

Emergency responders train with local veterinarians when possible, though fitting animal care into their already packed training schedules is challenging. Chief McNeill says his department would love more training opportunities.

Fire chiefs offer crucial advice for pet owners: never leave doors open hoping your pet will escape. Open doors let smoke and flames spread through the home, reducing survival time for everyone inside.

"Keeping doors closed gives us time to control the fire," Merchant explains. "That buys time and increases survivability for trapped pets."

Sunny's Take

Many firefighters own pets themselves, making these rescues deeply personal. They understand the terror of watching your home burn while worrying about a trapped family member with four legs instead of two.

New London Animal Control Officer Tonya Kloiber frequently cares for rescued pets at fire scenes. She sees residents standing on the street at night, watching their homes burn, desperate for news about their animals.

These firefighters prove that heroism isn't just about saving human lives. When they carry an unconscious cat from a smoke-filled building or administer oxygen to a frightened dog, they're protecting the bonds that make a house feel like home.

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