'Firecat' Burned In Mendham Christmas Tree Bonfire Doing OK

MENDHAM, NJ — A kitten injured in the annual Twelfth Night Bonfire in Mendham Township is expected to make a full recovery— an earned a cheeky name along the way.

The newly named "Firecat" was injured Sunday night when he hid inside a pile of Christmas trees ahead of the annual end-of-the-season bonfire hosted by the Mendham Fire Department. The 13-week-old kitten escaped from the pile after the trees were lit.

The Mendham Fire Department said they captured the cat and gave him oxygen before taking him to a nearby animal hospital.

Claudine Cheung, the president of the Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, said Firecat's fur was burned but his skin is good. Firecat is receiving oxygen, eye drops and IV fluids, and has a good prognosis. She described him as "a sweet kitten."

"We spent several hours earlier [Sunday] helping to pick up and load the trees into the pile, and at no time did we witness any activity that would lead us to believe that animals were within the trees. We want to thank all the concerned Mendham residents and are confident the cat will get the proper care and treatment, and we hope the cat has a speedy recovery," Mendham officials said.

It's not clear if the cat has an owner, or if the cat is a stray.

Image via Randolph Animal Shelter