Flames engulf flat; couple & 12 rescued cats safe

PUNE: A third floor flat at the Eden Garden apartments behind Cloud9 housing society in Mohammadwadi went up in flames allegedly due to a short circuit around 12 pm on Sunday.
Fire officer Anil Gaikwad from the Wanowrie fire station said, "The house was being rented by animal rescuer Sachin Kamble and his wife. They rescued 10 cats while rushing out of the flat where the fire had broken out in the bedroom."
He said firemen rescued two more cats that were trapped in the kitchen and balcony.Residents of the neighbouring apartment tried to douse the flames with fire extinguishers, but failed.
"After receiving information, two fire tenders from Wanowrie and Kondhwa fire stations reached the spot and gained control over the fire. The flames were doused completely within 25 minutes, with water being sprayed from the outside and also inside the flat. We removed two domestic cylinders as a preventive measure."
"The mattress, clothes, wooden furniture and electrical appliances, among other goods, were completely gutted," he added.
Kamble said, "My wife and I were in the hall, when a plug for charging mobile phones in the bedroom caught fire. Flames engulfed the stored documents and other household goods within minutes."