Deputy Swoops In, Saves Cuddly Cat After Fire

Quick-acting neighbors, firefighters and deputies managed to save a couple and their cat from a Sunday blaze in Thonotosassa.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first on the scene to a mobile home fire at 11940 Highway 301 N. on Sunday. When they arrived at the Ranch Oaks Estates Mobile Home Park, they found out that resident Melanie Caffrey had been successfully removed from the home by neighbors. David Caffrey, however, was still inside.

“The home was fully engulfed when Deputy Dustin Hartline and his recruit, Deputy Ryan Jones arrived,” the sheriff’s office explained in an email to media. “Deputy Hartline and Deputy Amanda ‘Brooke’ Talbot used their fire extinguishers and neighbors used a garden hose to try and fight the fire to little avail.”

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they were able to make short work of the flames. David Caffrey was evacuated from the home.

While emergency crews worked to bring the Caffreys to a local hospital for treatment, Talbot happened upon the family’s cat and found it unresponsive. Acting fast, she used a breathing bag normally used for infants to resuscitate the critter. Fire rescue also supplied oxygen to help the creature out.

Still concerned about the cat, Talbot, the sheriff’s office said, contacted BluePearl Veterinary Partners at 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. in Tampa for some help. The hospital, the sheriff’s office said, agreed to check out the cat for no fee considering the dire circumstances.

The cat was driven to the veterinary hospital by a neighbor and is expected to make a full recovery, the sheriff’s office said. In the meantime, the cat will stay with the neighbor until the Caffreys are released from the hospital. The sheriff’s office said both Melanie and David are listed in stable condition.

The cat’s name is not known at this time.

Photos courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office