Seventeen cats at an overnight boarding facility were killed Saturday when a "major emergency structure fire'' tore through at a row of commercial buildings in the Palms area of Los Angeles.
A firefighter was injured battling the blaze, and was rushed to a hospital in fair condition.
"Heavy smoke impacted at least half-dozen businesses, including a feline overnight boarding facility where several cats were rescued, but others sadly perished,' said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters were dispatched at 5:44 a.m. to 9000 W. Venice Blvd. and had the blaze out within 73 minutes of their arrival, Humphrey said.
"One firefighter took ill during the intense firefight, and has been taken to an area hospital in fair condition for observation,'' he added.