Firefighters were able to rescue a cat from the roof of a 17th Street two-family home struck by fire Friday afternoon.
Niagara Falls firefighters, along with Niagara Falls Police and AMR, responded to 744 17th St. around 2 p.m. Friday for reports of the structure fire. Firefighters arrived on scene to smoke and flames showing from a second-floor apartment. Firefighters stretched a hand line up to the second-floor balcony and into the residence to extinguish the fire, which appeared to have started in the kitchen.
All occupants, including a dog and a cat, were able to escape both apartments without injury. The cat escaped the apartment and went to the top of the roof and hunkered down near the chimney. Using a couple of ladders, firefighters were able bring it off the roof safely and reunite it with its owner.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit.
The Red Cross has been requested to assist the two families.