03/12/2026
We need to build a statue for this cat
In February 2026, a house fire in Tillamook, Oregon gained attention after a nine-week-old kitten named Fred reportedly saved his owner’s life. Donald VanWormer said he was asleep when the kitten began scratching and pawing at his face, waking him just as flames were spreading through the attic of the home. The fire was later believed to have started when a dehumidifier overheated, and VanWormer escaped with minor burns after crawling out through heavy smoke.
VanWormer attempted to carry the kitten while fleeing the burning house, but lost him as debris and a collapsing ceiling blocked the exit. Firefighters later found the kitten near the doorway, having nearly made it outside. The blaze caused more than $1 million in damage to the property, and the owner later said the loss of the pet who woke him was the most painful part of the tragedy.