Because I Can… the random thoughts of Marc Scott

WARNING: The following blog contains graphic details of heroism and bravery and may not be suitable for all audiences.  Reader discretion is advised! (Now you may laugh)

The following is an excerpt from an article in the Chicago Sun-Times…

As flames ripped through a Back of the Yards home Tuesday, firefighters heard the cries of a cat as they opened the front door to save an ailing woman inside.

Chicago firefighter John Gricus and fire Lt. Mike Videka rushed into the home at 47th and Laflin to rescue the woman, while firefighter Chuck Sanow grabbed the cat, its fur singed by the fire and soaking wet from the water.

“A life is a life, no matter whether it’s a person or an animal,” Sanow said.

There is a irony in this article because, since seemingly the beginning of the fire service, Firefighters have been connected with rescuing cats.  I always used to laugh about this.  In fact, when I first joined the Fire Service 9 years ago, that was the most common response I’d get when I’d tell people.  “Have you rescued any cats yet?”

A couple of years after I joined, I actually got the chance to do that very thing.  I rescued a cat.  What makes the story even better is that it’s completely unconventional.  Nobody sees my response coming when they ask the question and I give it to them.  After reading that article today though, I felt compelled to share my  story.

Several years ago we got a “public assistance” call.  In the truck on our way to the address nobody was sure what to expect, which made it tough to prepare.  Looking back though, all the preparation and pre-incident planning in the world wouldn’t have equipped us for what we encountered.

We were greeted by the homeowner who informed us that her new cat had somehow trapped itself inside the wall.  We entered the home and navigated our way through it to the basement.  Once there, we stood looking at a 4ft high cinder block wall.  The cinder blocks, as you know, have 2 hollows in them.  The cat, much to our surprise, had managed to fall down inside the hollow of the blocks nearly all the way to the bottom of the wall.  The poor thing was completely wedged inside the hollow.

As we discussed our options, we immediately ruled out two.  Nobody could reach in with their arm because the cat was simply too far in.  So that option was out.  We also didn’t want to use any form of demolition that would wreck the structure or harm the cat. 

We discussed several other options, when almost at the exact same time we all looked across the basement and saw the answer sitting in the corner.  The answer was a high powered shop vac!

Perhaps it was because I was the junior member on the scene, I’m not entirely sure, but I was selected as the one whom would attempt to suck this cat out of the wall with a high powered shop vac.  As I mentioned earlier, not exactly the typical scenario you picture when you think of a Firefighter rescuing a cat!

I proceeded to stick the hose down the hollow until it reached the cat.  We then turned to shop-vac on, crossed our fingers, I said a little prayer, and away we went.  The rescue mission was officially on!  I’m not going to lie to you.  I didn’t think it would work.  Much to my shock and amazement though, it did.  Well… almost.  I manged to draw the cat up almost to the top of the wall when it became wedged yet again.  This time, using the shop-vac wouldn’t work.

Not only was I the junior Firefighter on the scene, but I also had the skinniest arm.  Guess what that meant?  Since the cat was nearly to the top and I was the only one who could get his arm in the hollow, I was volunteered to continue with the rescue.  I removed my bunker coat and gloves, eased my arm into the void, and worked to free the cats legs.

I managed, with great effort and discomfort, to manoeuvre my arm in such a way as to free the little fellow.  Once his legs were no longer caught, I carefully brought him to the top of the wall and back to freedom.  What happened next, however, I did not expect. 

As soon as the cat was free, he took off straight up my arm, onto my shoulder, up my neck, across my face, off the back of my head, and then shot across the room like a bullet.  Perhaps he was less than thrilled with our rescue technique?  I guess that is something I’ll never know.  But, for my bravery and heroism, I got a trip the ER!  I had scratches and cuts from my hand to my head, and I had to get shots as a precaution!!!

From that day forward, whenever I was greeted by my fellow Firefighters, they all said the same thing… “no glove… no love!”