2 residents, 4 animals rescued from Calif. balcony

3 adults, 2 children escaped before firefighters arrived; fire crews used ladder to rescue 2 adults, 2 dogs, 2 cats from 2nd-floor balcony

November 01, 2011 05:46 AM

By Karl Fischer
The Contra Costa Times

RICHMOND, Calif. — Firefighters rescued two people and a pile of animals from the balcony of a burning house Monday morning.

No one was hurt. The electrical fire broke out about 3:30 a.m. on the 100 block of Maine Avenue, and caused about $30,000 in damage, Battalion Chief Byron Berhel said.

Crews used a ladder to rescue two adults, two dogs and two cats from a second-floor balcony. Three other adults and two children who also live at the home escaped before firefighters arrived.

The department called the American Red Cross to find temporary shelter for the displaced residents.

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