Cat rescued from burning apartment

GALVESTON — Galveston firefighters called to an apartment fire Wednesday saved the building and rescued a cat from a burning and smoke-filled residence, a fire official said.

Firefighters were called at 2:55 p.m. to the 1800 block of 23rd Street and arrived within 2 minutes, finding smoke billowing from the two-story, brick building’s eaves and windows, fire Battalion Chief Mike Wisko said.

The crews found heavy smoke inside from a fire consuming the kitchen area of an upstairs apartment. The cause of the fire remained under investigation, and no injuries were reported, Wisko said.

The fire worked its way into the attic, but within 5 minutes, firefighters had the blaze under control, Wisko said.

“After a primary search, we found no humans, but we did find a cat and safely removed it from the fire,” Wisko said, noting the department learned the resident was at work at the time of the fire.

Fireman Jeff Pucciarello rescued the cat, which appeared unharmed.

He put the feline inside a fire department pickup for safe keeping until the owner arrived.

Firefighters also found a plastic gasoline can inside the residence. Wisko said it might have been stored in the apartment.

Police detoured traffic around the fire scene on 23rd Street between avenues O1/2 and P.