Vernon fire crew returning from car accident discover a hitchhiking cat

The sound of meowing indicated that Vernon firefighters had picked up a hitchhiker while responding to a motor vehicle accident yesterday afternoon.

Vernon firefighters were on scene for roughly two hours, Nov. 27, after they responded at 2 p.m. to a three-vehicle motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 97 and Bernie Road, said deputy fire chief Alan Hofsink, with Vernon Fire Rescue Services.

No one was injured or sent to the hospital but during that time a cat crawled into the engine department of the fire engine and hitched a ride back to the fire hall unbeknownst to firefighters.

“It’s kind of a bizarre story so we’re kind of looking for the owner of a cat,” he said.

It wasn’t until firefighters heard meowing that they were alerted to the cat in the engine department.

“They housed the cat for the night at fire hall station two and dropped it off at the Creekside Animal Clinic in the morning, he said. The fire crew kept it overnight at the hall as neither the SPCA or vet were open at the time.

“I think it’s a kitten, a couple months old and it’s got a right white front paw,” he said. “It looks to be in healthy condition, just petrified from taking a ride in a fire engine.”

In the more than 20 years Hofsink has been a firefighter, this is the first time he’s ever heard of a cat or animal hitchhiking a ride in a fire truck.

The cat will be taken to the Vernon SPCA and its owners can call the shelter at 250-549-7297.

— This story was updated at 4:26 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, with new information about the cat's location.

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