Firefighters Rescue 36 Cats From Lombard Shelter Fire
A blaze at a private cat rescue on East St. Charles Road left the single-family home damaged, but all rescued animals appear healthy.
By Alina Campbell ·
Firefighters rescued 36 cats from a severe fire at the Cat Guardians shelter in Lombard on Sunday night. The blaze consumed part of the single-family home used for the rescue, though no human injuries or fatalities were reported.
Village officials confirmed that 38 cats were in the building when the fire began. Of those, 36 were pulled from the structure by crews and appeared to be in good condition. Authorities believe the remaining two animals escaped on their own.
The fire started at 8:22 p.m. on East St. Charles Road. Lombard fire crews arrived five minutes later and found flames exiting the east side of the house with smoke venting from the eaves.
Crews deployed multiple hose lines to suppress the flames while other firefighters entered through the rear of the building to extract the animals. The fire was under control by approximately 8:40 p.m.
Villa Park, Elmhurst, Addison, and York Center fire departments provided additional support during the operation. Lombard police managed traffic around the scene and advised the public to avoid the area while emergency vehicles were present.
Cat Guardians, an animal rescue center operating for more than 35 years, focuses on stray and homeless cats. The organization provides care, foster options, and permanent placement for the animals. Attempts to reach the shelter directly were not immediately successful following the incident.
The village issued a social media alert shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday. The post stated that the fire was under control and that at least 30 cats had been rescued. Officials noted that most cats were accounted for, though the total number had not yet been confirmed at that time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
