Structure fire on New Hope Road Josephine County

Rural Metro Fire - Josephine County

5/17/22, 18:06 hrs. (NEW HOPE) -- A kitchen fire mobilized a large firefighting response to the 6200 block of New Hope Road this evening.  First-arriving units from Rural Metro Fire found a well-involved kitchen, with heavy smoke filling the house.  With assistance from a Grants Pass Fire crew, the fire was controlled and a search was conducted to confirm the absence of any occupants.  

It was confirmed the occupants were not home, but firefighters did located 13 out of 14 known cats that had been recently taken in as "rescues".  Many were kittens, and nearly all suffered from severe smoke inhalation.  Firefighters, along with medics from AMR-Josephine County, worked to revive the cats as they were brought out to the front yard.  Medical oxygen was delivered using specially designed masks for pets, and as a result a single 2-day-old kitten began showing signs of life.  Unfortunately the others did not survive.

A Rural Metro Firefighter rushed the kitten to Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in Central Point, where the kitten remains in their care.  

The fire remains under investigation. 

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