A cat pulled unconscious from a smoke-filled van in Marina del Rey received first aid from a sheriff's deputy. Deputy Lopez responded to a service call about smoke coming from a van in the 14100 block of Marina del Rey, found the animal lying motionless in the parking lot after firefighters rescued it, and got straight to work administering first aid.
According to KTLA, the call came in around 11 a.m. Sunday, October 18, and Los Angeles County Fire Department crews worked to extinguish the flames while searching the van for any additional occupants. Firefighters rescued the unresponsive cat from inside the smoke-filled vehicle and joined the rescue efforts on scene once the fire was out.
Deputy Steps In With Oxygen
That's when Deputy Lopez took over. Finding the cat lying in the parking lot, the deputy requested oxygen and administered first aid to the unconscious animal. The cat regained consciousness a short time later thanks to the combined rescue efforts, per a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Facebook post cited by the outlet, and was taken to a nearby veterinary facility for further treatment.
The cat was eventually reunited with its owner, closing out what could have been a far grimmer outcome for the animal. The sheriff's department credited Deputy Lopez with helping save the cat's life in Marina del Rey and commended the deputy for quick thinking, compassion, and commitment to protecting the community.
Marina del Rey is served by Los Angeles County, which provides municipal services including firefighting; the county’s Marina del Rey community report describes those services.
Agencies Share Credit for the Rescue
Specialized equipment for animal emergencies is used by some local responders: the Los Angeles Fire Department has received donated animal-resuscitation kits with oxygen masks sized for different animals, from hamsters to large dogs. The LAFD Foundation’s description of the kits does not establish what equipment Deputy Lopez used; the account of the Marina del Rey rescue identifies oxygen and first aid, but not a particular mask.
The department appreciated the fire department's assistance in the rescue, acknowledging that the outcome depended on firefighters pulling the cat from the van before the deputy's first aid could make a difference. Details on what sparked the fire, the extent of any damage to the van, and whether anyone else was inside have not been released.
