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 Bluesky 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… Seeking gold: Marion teen to compete in world fly fishing championship Saltville takes step toward transforming Hartwood property into gateway Chilhowie Town Council honors record setting athlete Smyth Animal Rescue's Pet of the Week is fun loving and ready for his next adventure Marion Senior High grad claims top state art award Wellness fair to return to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion Smyth County School Board honors Chilhowie businessman Smyth County deputy saves man's life Communities rally to support officer injured in the line of duty Update: General Assembly approves budget deal Privacy laws prevent Smyth school board from commenting on parent allegations Broady to present program to help instill Martin Luther King's clarity, courage Virginia budget leaders reach 'agreement in principle' for deal These brands pulled back on Pride. It could cost them. Here's why 36 Million Small Businesses Are Quietly Fighting the Same Battle 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 Savannah Guthrie responds after reports on ransom note claiming her mother died Savannah Guthrie responds after reports on ransom note claiming her mother died Judge Blocks Trump DOJ Subpoenas Targeting Democratic Officials Judge Blocks Trump DOJ Subpoenas Targeting Democratic Officials
When to call 911 and when not to Calling 911 is for emergencies only, but what counts as an emergency?
