WASHINGTON — Montgomery County Fire & Rescue found more than 50 cats in an otherwise unoccupied home while responding to a fire around 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The cause of the fire — which was located in the basement of a one-story, single family home at 3402 Weller Road in Wheaton, Maryland — is still undetermined.
Public Information Officer Pete Piringer tweeted that the home had over $75,000 worth of damage from the fire, the house was condemned and the firefighters’ gear was contaminated.
While many cats were rescued by Montgomery County Fire & Rescue or escaped on their own, Piringer tweeted that responders were dealing with multiple cat fatalities with the assistance of Animal Services.
UPDATE (5/23) Weller Rd, 1-sty SFH, basement fire, severe hoarding conditions w/ belongings & animals. 50+ felines in home otherwise unoccupied. Cause, undetermined. Animal Services assisted w/ multiple feline fatalities. Damage, >$75K. house condemned, FFs gear contaminated pic.twitter.com/huKCGgfr6S
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 24, 2018
