Local

Firefighter hurt, cats rescued after flames destroy Huntersville home

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Firefighters were busy battling a raging fire at a home in Huntersville Wednesday morning.

Crews were called to the home on Maxwelton Drive, just off Sam Furr Road near Lake Norman around 11:15 a.m., and saw heavy flames and smoking coming from the house.

[PHOTOS: Flames destroy home in Huntersville]

It took crews about 20 minutes to knock the fire down, and officials told Channel 9 that a firefighter suffered first-and second-degree burns while fighting the flames. He has been treated and released from the hospital.

The hazy smoke and flames made the fire a tough one to battle for firefighters.

"We are operating in a house that we have probably never been inside of, zero visibility, high heat conditions. We are trying to put a fire out and make sure that nobody was inside," said Bill Suthard with the Huntersville Fire Department.

The man who lives at the home was at work when the fire started. Channel 9 was there as he arrived at his home and was reunited with his dog who was in the backyard when the fire broke out.

(Click PLAY to watch homeowner reunite with his dog)

Firefighters also rescued several cats in the home.

"They (firefighters) started opening the windows and right after one of the firemen motioned me over and he had the first cat in his hands," said Casey Blades who first spotted the flames and called 911.

Firefighters gave the cat oxygen.

"His eyes were swollen shut, but when we started driving him to the animal hospital he purred," Blades said.

Firefighters rescued two more cats from the burning home. They are expected to be OK.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(Click to watch

raw

video from Chopper 9 Skyzoom)

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group

Most Read