Watch as paramedic saves ‘fortunate kitty’ after east Charlotte fire

A Charlotte cat kept one of its nine lives Wednesday due to the quick work of a Mecklenburg EMS paramedic.

The heroic effort from paramedic Chris Noll was caught on video and shared through the Charlotte Fire Department’s social media accounts. Thirty firefighters responded to the blaze around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 3700 block of Commonwealth Avenue. Light smoke was showing from a home.

Noll cared for the “fortunate kitty” after it was removed from the home, CFD tweeted at 3:37 p.m. In the 45-second video, Noll is seen petting the cat and using an oxygen tank and non-rebreather mask to help it get air back in its lungs.

Several cats did not survive the fire, the fire department said.

The fire originated from the kitchen and was deemed accidental, CFD said in a tweet. No human injuries were reported, but the owner of the home, who wasn’t home at the time, will stay with friends for the time being, the Charlotte Fire Department said.

Neighbors reported the fire. The estimated loss from the fire is $22,000, according to CFD.