Belmont family reunited with cat after deadly Bronx fire
The building has been vacant since April 21, when a deadly fire killed two people and forced residents out of their homes.
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It was an emotional scene in Belmont as one family was reunited with its cat, Ritchie, after it was stuck inside a fire-damaged apartment building for over two weeks.
Julia Silva cried out, "Ay mi niño!" as she held her 9-year-old cat Ritchie, after he was rescued from the building on East 187th Street.
The building has been vacant since April 21, when a deadly fire killed two people and forced residents out of their homes.
Dozens of residents and animal advocates gathered outside the building, chanting "FDNY do your job" and demanding more action to rescue pets still believed to be inside.
The Department of Buildings says the fire caused severe structural damage throughout the building, including to the interior stairs, making it unsafe for anyone to enter. DOB, FDNY and Animal Care Centers met with families to discuss ongoing rescue efforts.
Later on, DOB said their team, along with Animal Care and Control, conducted searches on the first and second floors of the building. Aside from Ritchie, they did not find any other cats during the search.
They said the staircase above the second floor is not passable, and therefore, no search efforts could be conducted on the upper floors of the building.
"We want them to be rescued," said pet owner Susana Torres. "They're afraid. They're scared. They need food."
Animal trapper Jon Debacker says humane traps baited with food could help safely rescue remaining animals. Advocates say several pets are still unaccounted for. There are mostly cats, a turtle and birds, all believed to be stuck inside.
DOB and ACC set up food and traps throughout the accessible parts of the building. They say they'll be returning to the building in the coming days to attempt additional rescues.
