Firefighters in Southfield, Michigan, successfully rescued a cat from an underground pipe on September 20, 2026, using a shop vacuum. Lieutenant Kiah, Firefighter/Paramedic Ballew, and Acting Driver Engineer Siburt responded to the scene after receiving a report about a cat trapped and crying in distress.
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The Southfield Fire Department shared the story on social media, commending the crew for their innovative approach to the animal rescue. The firefighters employed the suction from a heavy-duty shop vacuum, typically used for cleaning debris and water at work sites, to safely extract the cat from the pipe.
Following the successful rescue, the fire department confirmed that the cat is in good condition. They humorously noted that this incident illustrates that firefighters do rescue cats, though not always from trees.