Firefighters Fail To Revive An Unconscious Cat Rescued From Reston Condo Fire

Updated (March 1, 10:30 a.m.) -

RESTON, VA — Despite their best efforts, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue EMS personnel were unable to revive an unconscious cat that had been rescued Sunday morning from condo fire in Reston.

One occupant of the building was taken for medical evaluation and no other injuries were reported. The fire displaced on occupant.

FCFRD units responded around 7:33 a.m. for the report of a fire at a condo building in the 1400 block of Northgate Square in Reston, according to a department blog post.

When they arrived on the scene, firefighters reported smoke and fire coming from the second-floor window of a three-story, garden style condominium. The fire was quickly extinguished, according to an 8:07 a.m. Twitter post.

Twenty people were in the building when the fire occurred. A smoke alarm alerted one occupant to the fire and they tried to extinguish the blaze with a fire extinguisher. When that failed, the occupant called 911.

Reston resident Laura Taylor shared some photos she took of Sunday morning's fire.

"Within seconds of grabbing the camera, they had put the fire out," she said, in an email. "I saw them assist the cat with CPR. Very, very sad and scary. That EMT team is/was great and tried very hard."

Investigators determined that the fire was accidental and caused by unattended incense burning near combustible items. The damage caused by the fire was estimated to be $93,750.