The fire service rescues squirrels from fireplaces – NRK Troms and Finnmark

A woman in Alta had planned a relaxing Sunday watching TV.

But that was before she met the gaze of something inside her fireplace.

– She was probably quite frightened, so the first people she contacted were the police. They were the ones who told her that she should contact us instead, says foreman, Roger Pettersen, in Alta fire and rescue.

It was he who led the rescue operation when a squirrel got stuck inside a house pipe in Alta.

Had to dismantle the oven

Pettersen says that the mission took time, since the squirrel was not exactly helpful during the rescue operation.

– It was very fast and bouncy, so if you got close to it, it flew up the pipe, laughs Pettersen.

With crew strategically placed, both in the living room and on the roof, the rescue operation was ultimately successful.

– We had to use the broom to push it down the pipe. We then got it into a plastic box, he continues.

Fresh as a fish

When the squirrel was freed from the pipe, it was covered in soot from head to toe. Nevertheless, Petterson could confirm with his own eyes that the animal appeared to be in good shape.
– After we caught the squirrel, we transported it to some trees in the vicinity. I’m sure it will have a good life there, concludes Petterson.