On Friday, December 26, the Fire Department (Damkar) carried out an unusual rescue at a luxury restaurant after a cat became trapped inside the premises.
The incident drew public interest and online attention.
The fire crew received a call after staff reported a cat hiding in a difficult location within the restaurant. The animal’s agile movements made the operation challenging. Officers worked carefully to reach the cat without causing it harm.
During the rescue, several restaurant windows were broken in an effort to reach the hiding place. The Fire Department maintained focus on the animal’s safety throughout the operation. After careful manoeuvring, the team secured the cat and evacuated it safely and unharmed.
The department’s response drew comments from local netizens who recognised the value of firefighters’ roles beyond their core duties.
One social media user wrote: “The best firefighters….🔥🔥👏👏”. Another netizen commented: “BCA’s security and firefighters are always the best, and on this day 👏👏🔥🔥🙌”.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of animal rescue responses by firefighting units across Indonesia. In Palangka Raya, Damkar teams have previously evacuated a cat trapped in a vehicle’s fan belt with care to avoid injury to the animal and damage to the vehicle.
In Kutai Kartanegara, firefighters helped retrieve a kitten stranded in a tree, showing attention to community concerns beyond fire suppression.
In Klaten, a local unit recovered a cat that had been stuck at the bottom of a well for several days, keeping it alive and returning it to its owner.
These examples illustrate the expanding scope of emergency responses in the region. Fire services are increasingly called to assist with situations involving animals in distress, using specialised equipment and training to ensure humane outcomes.
Fire Department personnel emphasised that their primary objective remains the safety of all life, whether human or animal. They encourage the public to contact authorities promptly when animals are in situations beyond normal reach.
Local restaurant management praised the firefighters’ professionalism after the operation. The cat was returned to its owner without injury, and staff expressed relief that the animal was safe at the end of the tense process.