Jackson Twp. authorities rescue man, 2 cats from burning home

JACKSON TWP. – Police and firefighters rescued a homeowner and two cats from a house fire earlier this week.

Jackson Fire Chief Tim Berczik said the blaze was reported shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday along Harbor Drive NW. There was heavy smoke and flames coming from the front-side windows of the attached garage as fire crews arrived.

"We’re fortunate that a neighbor to the rear along Salerno Street had called 911," the chief said in a prepared statement released Friday morning.

Jackson police officers were first at the scene and helped the resident safely exit the home, Berczik said.

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"We want to credit (the officers) with having saved the homeowner, since they had arrived quickly to awaken and evacuate him," the chief said via the statement.

Firefighters were able to extinguish most of the fire within about 10 minutes of their arrival, Berczik said.

During entry of the home through a front door, one firefighter chased down and retrieved a cat that ran upstairs. Another cat was found safely in a bathroom.

Both cats were reunited with the homeowner outside.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Jackson Twp. authorities rescue man, 2 cats from burning home