Visalia firefighters limit house damage, rescue 2 cats

Visalia firefighters rescued two cats and limited damage in a house fire Sunday night.

Battalion Chief Darrin Hughes said the fire was reported at 10:20 p.m. on Whitendale Avenue east of Demaree Street. First-arriving firefighters saw heavy fire and smoke coming from the attached garage but kept the fire from spreading.

The occupants got out safely but without their cats; firefighters found both cats in the house.

Damage was estimated at about $75,000 to the house, $10,000 to the contents and $6,000 to a vehicle in the driveway.

Hughes said the fire started near the electrical meter but the cause is still under investigation.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 8:58 AM with the headline "Visalia firefighters limit house damage, rescue 2 cats."