Vet tech Tanya Andrews assists Manchester EMS personnel to provide emergency oxygen to save the life of a family pet cat stricken by smoke inhalation late Friday night.

Vet tech Tanya Andrews assists Manchester EMS personnel to provide emergency oxygen to save the life of a family pet cat stricken by smoke inhalation late Friday night. Photo by Westminster Fire Dept. Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff Friday – Saturday, May 20-21, 2016

Several family pets were saved by quick action by the firefighters on the scene of a two – alarm fire late Friday night in Westminster. The cats and dogs were attended to by emergency medical personnel, including vet tech Tanya Andrews who assisted Manchester EMS personnel to provide emergency oxygen to save the life of a family pet cat stricken by smoke inhalation late Friday night

Over 80 firefighters from Carroll and Baltimore Co, and the Westminster Police Dept. responded with 20 pieces of equipment to a two–alarm fire in the 200 block of Gallatin Court, north of Westminster off Cranberry Rd.

The first call came into the county emergency communications center at 9:39. A second alarm was quickly sounded at 9:55.

Three families were displaced and two townhouses were destroyed in the blaze, but the fire did not spread farther thanks to the prompt and well-coordinated response by firefighters. Fire was declared under control at 1024 pm, but wrap-up and clean-up operations lasted until approximately 3 am, Sat. morning