Rescue efforts continue to find lost pets after deadly Belmont fire
Two pets have been rescued after a deadly fire killed two people at 660 E 187th St. on April 21.
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More than two weeks after a deadly fire ripped through a Belmont building, two pets were found alive.
The fire at 660 E 187th St. on April 21 killed two people and left several residents without a home.
Animal advocates and families stood outside the charred building on Saturday, hoping to continue their animal rescue efforts.
This week, a cat and a turtle were discovered alive and reunited with their families.
The rescues gave hope to other families who have been showing up every day and putting up missing flyers outside of the building.
Susana Torres told News 12 her two cats, Milo and Oreo, were last seen on a security camera running into her brother's room during the fire.
Firefighters rescued her brother, but unfortunately, the cats were not found.
"I'm still being hopeful that we're able to find both of them," she said.
The mother of two has been staying with family but returning to the destructive scene every day, bringing food and calling out Milo and Oreo's names.
"Seeing that one cat gives us hope of being able to see the rescues of the rest of the cats, because no one else prioritized that," said Torres.
Over the last week, an agreement between the Department of Buildings and Animal Care Centers allowed crews to temporarily enter the building and place traps on the first and second floors.
On Saturday, there was a delay with ACC telling community members they were not allowed to enter the building due to asbestos issues.
