Published: June 28, 2008 10:50 pm      

Firefighters deal with bus, downed tree and save cats

Fayetteville firefighters handled a bus in danger of rolling down a hillside, rescued two cats from a burning house and removed a downed tree within four hours’ time Saturday.

At 2:33 p.m., firefighters responded to a downed tree on Fayette Station Road, said Meredith Buskus, the department’s public information officer. The tree was partially blocking traffic. The road was temporarily closed while firefighters cleared the tree

Then at 3:36 p.m., the department responded to a whitewater rafting bus resting on the edge of Fayette Station Road, Buskus said. The bus was in danger of rolling off the hillside. Firefighters remained at the scene until the bus was secured.

At 6:10 p.m., the FFD responded to a residential structure fire just off Gatewood Road at Green Summit Estates, Buskus said. The house was not a total loss, but it did sustain heavy smoke damage. Water damage was limited to the basement and kitchen. The owners were not home when the fire started.

Two firefighters, one from Oak Hill and one from Fayetteville, rescued two cats that were inside the home, Buskus said. They handed both cats to Jan-Care Ambulance personnel for further “patient” care. Both cats were later taken to a veterinarian.

— Amelia A. Pridemore