Alert VINTON 59 cats die in one of Roanoke region's worst recent house fires involving animals LAURENCE HAMMACK The Roanoke Times Jun 23, 2026 Jun 23, 2026 Updated 6 hrs ago 0 × Calling 911 is for emergencies only, but what counts as an emergency? Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Fifty-nine cats died early Sunday in a fire that gutted the Vinton house where they lived.kAm$9@CE=J 367@C6 d 2]>][ #@2?@<6 r@F?EJ u:C6 2?5 #6D4F6 C6DA@?565 E@ 2 C6A@CE @7 2 7:C6 :? E96 a__ 3=@4< @7 vF?? pG6?F6[ H96C6 E96J 6?4@F?E6C65 962GJ 7=2>6D 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 7C@?E @7 2 D>2==[ H9:E6 7C2>6 9@FD6]k^AmkAmp7E6C E96 7:C6 H2D BF:4<=J 3C@F89E F?56C 4@?EC@=[ dh 42ED H6C6 7@F?5 5625]k^AmkAm~?6 @7 E96 9@>6’D EH@ C6D:56?ED H2D 23=6 E@ D2G6 @?6 42E 2?5 2 5@8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 7:C6 2?5 C6D4F6 @77:4:2=D] xE H2D ?@E <?@H? :7 E92E H2D E96 D2>6 A6CD@? H9@ H2D E2<6? E@ r2C:=:@? #@2?@<6 |6>@C:2= w@DA:E2= H:E9 >:?@C :?;FC:6D]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County schools make deep cuts, still expected to finish year over budget Campers start their paddleboarding journey on Smith Mountain Lake Early look at Virginia Tech's 2026 Week 5 opponent Pitt SML Lions Club awards scholarships to eight graduates Town recognized for Rocky Mount Fest success No-wake zones around Independence Day fireworks at Smith Mountain Lake Diamond Avenue residents ask for solutions to a longtime problem Corey Feldman hospitalized after medical emergency on flight Franklin County High School senior eager to teach farming to next generation Early look at Virginia Tech’s 2026 Week 3 opponent, Maryland Norovirus spreads among Appalachian Trail hikers in Virginia Virginia budget leaders reach 'agreement in principle' for deal Furniture and a car highlight Joyous Junque yard sale this week in Moneta Bedford County church seeks healing following Friday's wind-related tent collapse, death Casual drinker? You still have a 1 in 25 risk of dying, study says The house in the 200 block of Gunn Avenue in Vinton where 59 cats died in a fire Sunday is seen Monday. LAURENCE HAMMACK The Roanoke Times kAm%96 :?4:56?E >2C<65 @?6 @7 E96 #@2?@<6 C68:@?’D H@CDE 7:C6D :? C646?E J62CD :? H9:49 2?:>2=D 92G6 5:65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ p?86=D @7 pDD:D:[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E 2?:>2= H6=72C6 @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 7C6BF6?E=J 2DD:DED :? 5:D2DE6C D:EF2E:@?D]k^AmkAm“~FC 962CED 8@ @FE E@ E96 72>:=J 2?5 E96:C 2?:>2=D[” D2:5 {:D2 ~’}6:==[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 p?86=D @7 pDD:D:] ~’}6:== D2:5 E96 D96=E6C H2D ?@E :?G@=G65 :? E96 42D6]k^AmkAm$6G6C2= ?6:893@CD[ H9@ 2D<65 E92E E96J ?@E 36 :56?E:7:65[ D2:5 E96 42ED DE2J65 :?D:56 >@DE @7 E96 E:>6 2?5 5:5 ?@E 2AA62C E@ 36 DEC2JD]k^Am kAm“x <?6H D96 925 42ED] x 5:5?’E <?@H D96 925 D@ >2?J[” @?6 ?6:893@C D2:5] p?@E96C D2:5 E96 EH@ H@>6? H9@ =:G65 :? E96 9@>6 925 8:G6? ?2>6D E@ 2== e_ @7 E96:C 42ED 2?5 @?6 5@8]k^Am kAmxE :D F?=2H7F= :? E96 E@H? @7 ':?E@? 7@C 2?J@?6 E@ 92G6 >@C6 E92? 7@FC 5@8D @C 42ED :? 2 D:?8=6 5H6==:?8[ ?@E 4@F?E:?8 A6ED E92E 2C6 F?56C 7@FC >@?E9D @7 286]k^AmkAmr@FCE C64@C5D D9@H E92E z246J }:4@=6 v:=6D[ H9@ :D :56?E:7:65 2D E96 @H?6C @7 E96 9@FD6 3J #@2?@<6 r@F?EJ =2?5 C64@C5D[ H2D 492C865 =2DE J62C H:E9 92G:?8 >@C6 42ED E92? 2==@H65 F?56C E96 E@H? @C5:?2?46]k^Am kAm%H@ >:D56>62?@C DF>>@?D DE2E6 E92E b_ 42ED H6C6 D66? :? E96 9@FD6 @? s64] `a] %96 492C86D H6C6 5C@AA65 @? u63] `a] r@FCE C64@C5D 4@?E2:? ?@ 255:E:@?2= 56E2:=D @7 E96 492C86D 2?5 5@ ?@E :?5:42E6 H9J E96J H6C6 5C@AA65 2E E96 C6BF6DE @7 E96 4@>>@?H62=E9’D 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46]k^Am kAmv:=6D 4@F=5 ?@E 36 C624965 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^AmkAm~? |@?52J >@C?:?8[ E96 6>AEJ vF?? pG6?F6 9@FD6 H2D 4@C5@?65 @77 3J A@=:46 E2A6] xED 7C@?E 5@@C 2?5 EH@ H:?5@HD 925 366? <?@4<65 @FE[ 2?5 2 A:=6 @7 492CC65 563C:D H2D @? E96 A@C49] p >6E2= 5@@C 7C2>6 =2J :? E96 8C2DD]k^Am kAms:C64E=J 24C@DD E96 DEC66E[ 2 4C6H H@C<65 E@ C6A2:C 2?@E96C 9@FD6 52>2865 3J 7:C6 =2DE pF8FDE]k^AmkAmq@E9 @7 E96 9@>6’D C6D:56?ED H6C6 5:DA=2465[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96:C DFCG:G:?8 42E 2?5 5@8[ 2?5 H6C6 C646:G:?8 2DD:DE2?46 7C@> E96 p>6C:42? #65 rC@DD]k^AmkAms2>286 H2D 6DE:>2E65 2E S`__[___] u:C6 @77:4:2=D D2:5 E96 42FD6 @7 E96 3=2K6 C6>2:?D F?56C :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am Laurence Hammack (540) 981-3239laurence.hammack@roanoke.com 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story When to call 911 and when not to Calling 911 is for emergencies only, but what counts as an emergency? Watch Now: Related Video Sen. Stuart talks about budget negotiations Sen. Lucas introduces the budget conference report Sen. Lucas introduces the budget conference report Cannabis Edibles Are Taking Over The Marijuana Market Cannabis Edibles Are Taking Over The Marijuana Market Sen. Lucas makes opening remarks at meeting of Senate Finance and Appropriations Sen. Lucas makes opening remarks at meeting of Senate Finance and Appropriations
When to call 911 and when not to Calling 911 is for emergencies only, but what counts as an emergency?
