Spencerport Fire District chief Jake Bromage acknowledged his firefighters are under the microscope after a video showing a botched cat rescue has made the rounds online.
“We’re dealing internally with the clear loss of trust in our community,” Bromage said.
The video of the attempted rescue of a cat from a tree on Oct. 3 shows a high-power jet of water being sprayed into the limbs. Three people on the ground, including one dressed in firefighting gear, are holding a blanket, but the cat is knocked from the tree and lands on the ground. While the cat is seen running away, Bromage confirmed the owner had to euthanize their pet the following day.
While the investigation into what happened is still ongoing, Bromage said the tactics chosen in the attempted rescue were well outside the operational and professional standards of the district. The fire district, which owns the fire stations and equipment, is supported by the Spencerport Volunteer Firemen’s Association, which provides personnel.
Bromage said there were previous attempts to rescue the cat prior to what the video shows, but didn’t elaborate on what those involved. In 2024, pictures posted to a Spencerport community Facebook page showed a cat rescue using a ladder.
Spencerport cat rescue attempt involved extreme tactics
The district will always respond to requests for pet rescues, Bromage said. Spencerport firefighters have helped rescue cats trapped inside the walls of homes or used ladders to get cats from trees in the past.
Those firefighters are expected to respond appropriately to those requests for rescue, Bromage said, including making a judgment call on when it’s not appropriate to provide assistance. While the cat had been in the tree for quite some time, it didn’t justify the extreme tactics used, he said.
Additional information on the incident, including any discipline, is not expected until the internal investigation is complete. Bromage pledged accountability, saying the district needs to re-establish trust with those it serves, and saying the message was reinforced with members in a meeting on Oct. 7.
— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Cat rescue in Spencerport botched with extreme tactics, fire chief says
Reporting by Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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