2 Dogs, 3 Cats Saved by Firefighters

Los Angeles firefighters found four dogs and five cats in a burning house on Laurel Canyon Boulevard just south of Mulholland Drive late Wednesday night.

Using miniature oxygen masks and CPR techniques, firefighters revived two dogs and three cats. Two dogs and two cats perished. One cat ran off and firefighters couldn't retrieve it, but hope that it will be found soon.

Studio City-based Fire Station 97, responding to a call at at 10:01 p.m., went to the scene at 2747 Laurel Canyon Blvd.

“As soon as we arrived, we entered the building and we saw the animals on the floor near the door,” fire Capt. John Wolfenstein said.

A large black dog was revived quickly. A Chihuahua-terrier mix didn’t look like he'd make it at first, Wolfenstein said.

 “I didn’t think the little one was going to come back, but he did, and he seems just fine now,” said Wolfenstein, who put the little dog in one of the cars parked outside the house.  “At first, we had the address a little wrong and we drove right past and I pointed out this place and said, ‘Hey, that house is on fire!' "

No people were inside the house, and the residents had not returned home an hour after the fire was extinguished at 10:22 p.m.

One cat that was suffering from smoke inhalation began breathing again after breathing through a small oxygen mask. The small masks used on the animals were donated to LAFD by an animal care group, firefighters said. 

“We used the masks for about 10 minutes on each of them and saved as many as we could,” said Capt. Mike Castillo. “We treat them just like anyone else.”

The pets were transported to the Department of Animal Regulation until the owners could be notified. One neighbor said she had no idea so many animals lived in the house. 

The fire seemed to have started in the kitchen, but the cause is still under investigation, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

Laurel Canyon Boulevard was closed in both directions to traffic until after midnight from Lookout Mountain Avenue to Mulholland Drive.