Lindenhurst firefighters save rabbit from a burning house

Lindenhurst firefighters retrieved several pets, including a rabbit that received emergency oxygen treatment, from a burning house Sunday.

The house, at the corner of Albany Avenue and 41st Street, was heavily damaged by the fire, but the occupants were able to exit unharmed, said Mike McCloud, second assistant chief of the Lindenhurst Fire Department. A guinea pig and a hamster were also rescued, but a cat is missing and believed dead, McCloud said.

The rescued pets, including the rabbit that was having trouble breathing, were all located in the basement, McCloud said. Firefighter Jean Szabo applied oxygen to the rabbit, McCloud said.

Firefighters "were treating the rabbit like a real victim," McCloud said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by fire marshals, McCloud said. Firefighters responded to the blaze at 11:40 a.m. and left just after 1:30 p.m., he said.