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20 pets, including 14 dogs, 4 cats and 2 dogs, have been rescued in a Sacramento house fire, which occurred on Thursday, January 21.
In the early hours of morning, at approximately 3:45 a.m., 911 dispatchers were alerted about a blaze that had enveloped a residence located in North Highlands, at the junction between 3rd and I Street, in the 3400 block.
First respondents quickly arrived at the scene, in the immediate proximity of McClellan Park, and discovered that the property’s attic and garage had been completely swallowed up by raging flames.
In addition, as battalion chief Tony Peck explains, rescue units were also informed that several blasts had occurred once the fire broke out, causing the blaze which began in the carport to reach the upper part of the house.
Firefighters from the Sacramento Metro Fire District eventually managed to contain the combustion, and keep it from spreading to the rest of the building. They also succeeded in saving the homeowner, later identified as Tammy Murray.
During the rescue operation, which was aided by volunteers from the American Red Cross, fire units were also able to retrieve 20 of the woman’s pets: 14 dogs aged between 7 and 16, 4 cats and 2 parrots.
According to Captain Brian Gonsalves, a representative of the fire district, the animals are now safe and sound, although two of the rescued canines have required veterinary care, and had to be administered oxygen, after having suffered smoke inhalation.
One of Murray’s birds unfortunately died during the blaze, but the woman still feels grateful that firefighters managed to save not just her life, but also that of the vast majority of her companion animals.
As she declared, although the damage to her property is most likely expensive, and many of her material belongings have been devoured by the flames, she remains forever indebted to the first responders for having rescued her beloved pets.
Apparently, the animals are Murray’s most prized possession and sleep by her side every night. Although normally Sacramento County legislation specifies that a homeowner may only care for a maximum of 4 adult dogs or cats, the woman insists that officials have been aware of her situation, and have permitted her to keep all the pets, which are her only solace.
Currently, local authorities are trying to determine how the Sacramento house fire started, and if it has been caused by a malfunctioning home appliance, by human error or by a completely different factor altogether.
So far, preliminary reports indicate that the blaze began after a toast maker located in the garage right next to the washer and dryer suffered a technical failure, eventually catching fire, and filling the room with dense, toxic smoke.
Image Source: KCRA
