Volunteer Saves Four Cats From Midland House Fire

When Matthew Hill responded to a house fire call in Midland, Texas, he didn't expect to become a hero to four furry residents trapped inside.

Hill, a volunteer with the Citizens on Patrol program, was heading to a crash scene with his partner when they got diverted to the fire. He immediately told the Midland Fire Department about the cats still inside the burning home.

What happened next showed the power of community volunteers working alongside professional first responders. Hill helped rescue all four cats from the flames, then worked to keep them alive as they fought smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.

"I helped keep the masks on the cats as they're kind of rolling around," Hill said. "Just keep it on their face, so they can get that oxygen." He also poured water on the cats to cool them down and maintained a clean triage area for the frightened animals.

Hill joined the Citizens on Patrol program just this March. When he's not volunteering on Midland streets, he works as an air traffic controller, now earning a reputation for keeping people and animals safe both in the air and on the ground.

The Citizens on Patrol program has served Midland since 1995. Today, 23 volunteers work hand in hand with the Midland Police Department on everything from car accidents to structure fires to searches for lost children.

Sunny's Take

For Hill, the choice to volunteer came naturally. "I'm able to help assist people with car crashes, help assist people who are injured, look for missing people," he said. "It allows me to do that when I have spare time."

Bradley Bond, a longtime volunteer and program secretary, said this dedication runs through every member. "That's the good thing about volunteers, especially in this department, is we're ready to go do that," Bond explained. "When we can plug in and serve our community, that's what we're here for."

The program trains every volunteer to understand their mission and carry it well. Bond emphasized that efficiency comes from everyone working toward the same goal of making Midland a better place to live and work.

Those four cats are safe today because a community chose to invest in trained volunteers ready to step up when crisis strikes.