ComEd crew rescues cat from atop a pole transformer in Rolling Meadows, and cat owner Jenny Padilla describes the emergency (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics from Rolling Meadows responded about 6:00 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2023 to a report of a cat that needed rescue from the top of a police transformer in the block of 2800 Campbell Street in Rolling Meadows. A ComEd crew also responded during the day, but the plan was to wait and see if the cat would come down on its own.
The cat’s owner, Jenny Padilla, was concerned that the cat, named Lilly, was too fearful to come own on its own, and made a few extra calls during the day — crying to ask for help.
A ComEd crew and firefighters responded about 2:11 p.m. Friday to rescue the cat, after it was apparent the cat wasn’t coming down on its own. The was at risk of electrocution via contact with the bushings at the top of the transformer. The ComEd crew de-energized an unknown service area (unknown to Cardinal News) including the pole where the cat was located, then raised a ladder to rescue the cat. Firefighters stood by.
Initially, the ComEd crew used an insulated high voltage hot stick to encourage the cat to get into a Harbor Freight bucket that was hanging on the edge of another insulated hot stick. The plan was to lower the cat inside the bucket. When the attempt didn’t work, the crew tried to use canned tuna inside the bucket. The cat was a little more interested in the tuna smell in the bucket, but still wouldn’t get inside.
Next, one of the linemen climbed higher up to reach the cat and grab it while wearing thick gloves. The cat wasn’t too happy, and tried to use its claws to grab on to something to stay on top of the transformer. The rescue was a little risky for the ComEd worker on the ladder because there was the risk that Lilly would sink her claws into him while he only had one hand on the ladder, and one hand securing the cat.
The lineman grabbed the cat by the scruff of her neck and brought Lilly down on the ladder. Jenny, the grateful owner, was waiting below and hugged Lilly when the ComEd crew turned Lilly over to her. She hugged Lilly while she thanked the ComEd crew.
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor