Firefighters Resuscitate Cat

At Oneonta Apartment Fire

By JENNIFER HILL • Special To ALLOTSEGO.com

ONEONTA – Oneonta firefighters were able to resuscitate a cat rescued from the fire in the Mayrose Apartment complex on Lewis Avenue this evening.

“She was pretty much dead when we found her,” said Capt. Rob Latourette. “I gave her oxygen and she revived quickly.”

The cat, named Oreo, is owned by Matt Baker, a resident of the apartment, was also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Baker, 26, managed to rescue his three guinea pigs, which are in the care of a neighbor.

A second cat, a cream-colored female named Cheeseburger, was not located in the apartment, and is believed to have run out the door when the fire broke out and is still missing.

The fire was reported to Otsego County 911 at 6:21 p.m. by a neighbor, who reported seeing Baker run out of his apartment yelling “Fire! Fire!” with smoke coming from an upper-floor apartment.

Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon said the fire started in the kitchen of the apartment where Baker lives with his mother, Bonnie Boulware. Boulware was not home at the time of the fire.

While on the scene, police located a man who was determined to be wanted on an outstanding warrant, and arrested him.

Additionally, a water main broke in the parking lot of the building.

Otego, Worcester and West Oneonta provided Mutual Aid, and were sent back to their stations just before 7 p.m.

The fire is still under investigation.