Firefighters rescue iguana from tree

Firefighters rescue iguana from tree


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SALT LAKE CITY — Firefighters rescued a pet out of a tree Tuesday.

But it wasn't your traditional pet rescue.

"We rescue cats from trees occasionally. For the first time in probably quite awhile, we got an iguana," said Salt Lake fire spokesman Jasen Asay.

Just before 9 a.m., a resident at the Caledonian Apartments, 125 S. 300 East, called 911 to say their pet iguana had crawled out of their fifth floor window onto the balcony, and into a tree.

"We don't often do this. We can't rescue every pet stuck in a tree. But if we are available, we love helping the community," Asay said.

One firefighter climbed the 45- to 50-foot tree while a ladder truck was used to lift another to the roof of the apartment complex. One firefighter was able to bend the branch of the tree enough that the firefighter on the roof was able to safely grab the animal and return it to the owner.

The operation to rescue the iguana — which weighed about 3 pounds and was a foot to a foot-and-a-half long — took less than an hour.

Unlike many cats that are rescued, Asay said the iguana did not bite or scratch the firefighter who rescued him.

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