Fire brigade saves kittens from engine compartment - heroic deed in Ernsthofen!

Fire brigade saves kittens from engine compartment - heroic deed in Ernsthofen!

Steyr, Österreich - On June 20, 2025 at 07:24 a.m., the Ernsthofen fire department was called for an unusual use: a kitten had strayed into the engine compartment of a car and urgently needed help. The rescuers quickly reached the site and did everything they could to free the frightened animal. In order to successfully carry out such animal rescues, not only skill is required, but also a good portion of experience.

Animal rescue is one of the central tasks of the fire brigade. While a sweet kitten in Ernsthofen was saved from the predicament, many other scenarios are also conceivable: from cats that are stuck in the trees, to horses in the ditch or burning stables. As reports ndr.de, common sense often depends. Firefighters Theresa Balzer advises that the fire brigade only alert if an animal is in direct danger or you cannot help yourself.

Methods in animal rescue

The fire brigade moves out for animal rescues with a turntable ladder car, which is up to 30 meters high and costs around 700,000 euros. These vehicles are optimally equipped, but are not always suitable for every location. In such cases, the firefighters must use portable ladders that are more mobile but are limited in height. If it really depends on this, even height rescue teams with ropes and mountaineering techniques can be used. As the platform Feuerwehr-ub.de, methods such as the spraying or sawing a tree are not allowed.

In the case of missions that do not provide acute danger to life for the animals, costs may apply. These are usually charged to the animal owners or the regulatory office. In special cases, however, the municipality can cover the costs - for example if no owner is to be determined. Animal rescue operations often cost between 500 euros for one fire truck per hour and 200 euros for a lifeboat, depending on the effort and fee schedule.

tips for pet owners

For pet owners, it is advisable to prepare for emergencies. An emergency card and corresponding stickers that provide the emergency services about the type and number of pets are very helpful here. These can be obtained from animal welfare organizations or online. This makes it easier for the firefighters to act quickly in an emergency.

In the end, the knowledge remains: the fire brigade not only risks its life for people, but also for the animals that give us so much joy. The use in Ernsthofen shows how important and valuable such rescue actions are - for humans and animals.