09 Jan 2013
Two cats are dead with another 18 missing – after a fire destroyed a cattery.
More than 20 animals are believed to have been in the Pinetrees Cattery building in Stafford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, at the time.
The BBC has reported that up to 15 might have died, but a Staffordshire Fire and Rescue service spokesman said many of the missing cats may have escaped unharmed.
The spokesman said the brigade was not treating Friday’s fire as suspicious.
Six fire brigade crews, containing a water carrier and high volume pumping unit, arrived at the scene to find the predominately wooden structure well alight.
Station manager Dermot Hogan said: “The building has been destroyed and we’ve been unable to confirm so far how many cats have died in the fire. But some are believed to have escaped after the fire broke out.”
A fire investigation has revealed that an electrical fault within one of the cat pens is the probable answer as to how the blaze began.
Cattery bosses will be contacting the animals’ owners.
Copyright Press Association 2013