Firefighters Rescue Kitten from Storm Sewer

Photos courtesy of the Joliet Fire Department

A stray 7-week-old kitten that fell down a storm sewer was rescued by the Joliet Fire Department Friday morning.

Firefighter Chris Kinsella said he had noticed the cat was stuck in the sewer last night near his home in the 1200 block of Taylor Road, but despite attempts to get him out, he was unable to do so.

“I tried a few times last night to get him out, but he kept moving further down the pipe so I couldn’t reach him,” Kinsella said. “I put a board in there for him to get out thinking maybe he’d get out on his own, but this morning I still heard him in there.”

When he got into work, Kinsella enlisted the help of fellow firefighters to rescue the frightened feline.

“Once we got there, we took the rigs over there and got him out,” Kinsella said.

Lt. Paul Yanak and firefighters Brad Lande, Brian Hertzmann and Tyler Wilson all responded to the scene where a group effort rescued the kitten.

The kitten was warmed and given oxygen using a pet mask. Firefighters also gave him some water with sugar mixed in because they didn’t know the last time the kitten had eaten.

“It was able to take in water, but it wasn’t completely active like a normal kitten,” Yanak said.

The kitten was then picked up by the Joliet Township Animal Control.

“They were able to give it an IV and do things we couldn’t do,” Yanak said. “Based on updates we’ve received, it looks like it’s going to make a full recovery.”

Joliet Township Animal Control Director Sarah Gimbel said the cat is doing well and has been named Embers.

“It’s already been eating and I talked to the doctor and he said he’s doing fine,” Gimbel said.

The kitten will probably be up for adoption in about two weeks.

“I will promise you this kitten will get adopted. Everyone loves a story that goes with it,” Gimbel said.

However, there are still plenty of other kittens aside from Embers looking for a home. JTAC is located at 2807 McDonough Street and can be reached at 815-725-0333.