Kittens Set on Fire in Westchester

Firefighters in Westchester found four kittens inside a burning desk drawer in an apartment building in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Sunday. The Westchester SPCA says that someone set fire to papers in the drawer inside a basement of the building and then left the kittens to die.

The smoke from the fire drifted upstairs and someone called the fire department. Firefighters responded, put out the fire, and rescued the kittens.

The SPCA brought to two-week-old kittens to its shelter in Briarcliff Manor for medical attention. Two kittens suffered singed fur, one also suffered a cut, but are recovering.

The kittens survived by moving to the back of the drawer while the front burned, says Ken Ross, the SPCA chief.

The SPCA and the Mount Vernon police are investigating. Anyone with information can call the confidential 24-hour cruelty hot line at 914-941-7797.