Los Angeles Fire Department Kitten Rescue: Footage from Scene

Dramatic footage from the scene shows the extent of the rescue operation by LA firefighters and police who saved a little kitten trapped below ground in a drain.

South Los Angeles, California firefighters and police came to the aid of a little kitten in distress on Tuesday, October 15, rescuing it and giving it a home.

LAPD officers Axcel Mannoury and Brian Preston were flagged down in the wee hours Tuesday morning by a concerned resident who told them a kitten had been trapped in a trash littered storm drain, crying out, for at least two days.

According to Sgt. Lizarraga with the Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Division Station, the officers chased after the kitten for about 30 minutes before calling in firefighters. After firefighters arrived, the rescuers spent another hour trying to capture the kitten.

The frightened kitten squirmed and tried to escape but was safely placed in a cruiser after a firefighter brought him up from below ground.

Sgt. Lizarraga said the kitten appeared to be in good health and was adopted by Officer Mannoury following the rescue.

We covered the story that day, with Police and Firefighters Aid Kitten in Distress.

Today we discovered this video from the scene of the rescue, made by YouTube user Firelensman. The video shows the extent of the rescue operation and includes more footage than previously seen, shot from a better perspective.

Firelensman writes in his introduction:

10/15/2013 L.A. Firefighters from Station 33 rescue a kitten from a storm drain near the intersection of Avalon Boulevard and 82nd Street in South Los Angeles.

The kitty could be heard “meowing” for two days prior by persons in the area. LAPD on scene requested LAFD for assistance. At first Firefighters tried to grab the kitten by opening up the manhole cover to the storm drains on both sides of the street but to no avail. The kitten chose to remain just out of arms reach.

Just when Firefighters were about to leave they coaxed the kitten with part of a camera-man’s hamburger sandwich. That’s when Firefighter Tom grabbed the cat out the hole and brought it up to street level. Hopefully the kitten has eight lives to go!
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