Firefighters rescue cat from burning Lee’s Summit house

Firefighters rescued a cat from a burning house in Lee’s Summit early Thursday.

Firefighters responded to the fire about 1:20 a.m. in the 1700 block of Northeast Auburn Drive. The first arriving fire crews reported smoke and fire visible from the back of he one-story, single family house, according to the Lee’s Summit Fire Department.

All of the occupants had safely evacuated the house.

The fire started on the deck and quickly spread up the exterior wall and into the house through the roof eave and rear door, according to the Fire Department.

While a team firefighters battled the blaze outside, another fire crew entered the house and attacked the fire from the inside. During a search of the residence, they found the cat and brought it outside to the residents.

Firefighters brought the fire under control by about 1:50 a.m. The fire caused heavy damage to the rear of the house and a portion of the roof. The fire also damaged the house’s attic and kitchen. There was smoke damage throughout the house, according to the Fire Department.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 6:46 AM with the headline "Firefighters rescue cat from burning Lee’s Summit house."