Monday was just another day at the Bellefontaine Fire Department — until a tiny surprise turned it upside down.
A little kitten (who was later named Storm) got stuck in a storm drain at Sandusky Avenue and North Detroit Street, and a concerned citizen stopped in at the fire department around 4 PM to get it some help.
Firefighters Nate Alexander, Jeff Hickman, Sam Kirkpatrick, and Matt McMillen tried to lift a storm grate, but it wouldn’t budge.
So, they called reinforcements.
The Bellefontaine Water Department’s Ryan Shields and Bill Branan came to lend a hand and brought in an excavator — and later a jackhammer — to help.
Firefighters even tried reaching Storm through a nearby manhole, but it didn’t work.
During the rescue, McMillen had to leave for an emergency, while Police Officer Sullivan handled traffic.
When the jackhammer started, the noise scared Storm… and the kitten ran straight into the arms of the rescuers.
Rescuers showed the crew that was leaving on the emergency call the rescued kitten. (Video credit Ryan Shields)
Assistant Fire Chief Nate Alexander said the rescue took about an hour and a half, and Storm was unharmed.
The little lady spent the night at the firehouse — and later, firefighter/paramedic Matt McMillen decided to give Storm a forever home.
(Photo credits: Ryan Shieds and Bellefontaine Fire Department)
