The evacuation operation for those affected by the fire on Santa Llúcia Street in Manresa also involved the rescue of domestic animals. Denise and her daughter Sophie were evacuated from their apartment at number 29 when the adjacent block, 27, was burning fiercely. Although they managed to take one of their cats, Ramon, the kitten Annie was too frightened and remained locked inside the dwelling.
On Sunday morning, when Denise returned from buying bread, she was no longer allowed into the building. Her daughter Sophie asked a Firefighter for help to try and catch Annie, but the animal was so nervous that all attempts were futile, and they had to close the apartment with the kitten still inside.
“"Luckily, the Hostel accepts animals; otherwise, we don't know what we would have done!"
It was not until a subsequent visit, after lunch, that Denise was able to return to the apartment, accompanied, to attempt the animal's rescue. Armed with a small can of wet food, she finally managed to calm Annie and place her inside the carrier. Block 29 has no structural damage but is currently uninhabitable.
The 36 people evacuated from the three affected blocks (25, 27, and 29) are housed at the Generalitat Youth Hostel, known as the Alberg del Carme of Xanascat. Residents, such as Abdelaziz from block 25, are anxious about the future, as the burned building (27) will have to be demolished, and they do not know when they will be allowed to return home.
