Firefighters rescued at least 30 cats from a fire at Cat Guardians in Lombard on Sunday, Nov. 1.
The Lombard Fire Department responded to the structure fire at the shelter in the 900 block of East St. Charles Road, near North Westmore Avenue, according to NBC Chicago. A Village of Lombard spokesperson said the fire was under control by about 10 p.m.
Cat Guardians is an all-volunteer-run nonprofit that rescues stray and homeless cats. The organization says it has provided care for more than 2,000 cats over more than 35 years, according to its website.
Fire officials said most of the cats were believed to have been accounted for, Fox 32 reported. The total number of cats inside the building at the time of the fire had not been confirmed.
People at the scene were seen carrying kennels and loading them into vehicles as the rescue effort continued, CBS Chicago reported.
The Lombard Police Department assisted with traffic control. Village officials asked people to stay away from the area while emergency crews worked.
The Village of Lombard did not release information about the fire's cause, the extent of damage to the building, or the condition of the rescued cats, according to WBBM Newsradio.
