A morning fire in Chattanooga didn’t hurt anyone, but it was a close call for two cats, fire officials report.

Firefighters responded around 11:30 a.m. to a fire at 3206 12th Ave. No one was home at the two-story home that had been divided into three apartment and no human was injured, said Bruce Garner, fire department spokesman.

Though there were no people in the house, there were about 10 cats inside, he said.

Firefighters discovered the felines while extinguishing the fire in the kitchen. Some of the cats got out of the house on their own, while others were showing obvious ill effects from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters used oxygen bottles equipped with special masks for animals in an effort to revive the cats. The firefighters successfully revived several cats that were injured, but one was not expected to survive, Mr. Garner reported.

Battalion Chief Ben Biggs said the fire was contained to the kitchen area, but there was smoke damage to the rest of the apartment unit. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to the two people who live in the fire-damaged apartment unit.

Capt. Lesley Morgan with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature, most likely from a cat knocking over an unattended candle in the kitchen.

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