Jay Home Heavily Damaged By Fire; Century Firefighters Rescue Cat

January 13, 2026

A fire heavily damaged a home near Jay on Monday morning, but firefighters were able to save a cat from the blaze.

The fire was reported around 9:20 a.m. in the 3000 block of Shell Road. The first firefighter to arrive on the scene reported a working fire with smoke and flames visible.

Crewmembers from Escambia County Fire Rescue Engine 519 (Century) rescued a cat while battling the fire inside the home. The cat was successfully resuscitated on-site by first responders.

No human injuries were reported. The Jay, Allentown, and Berrydale stations of Santa Rosa County Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia Fire Rescue (Century Station), Lifeguard EMS, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Jay Home Heavily Damaged By Fire; Century Firefighters Rescue Cat”

  1. BrattGirl65 on January 13th, 2026 1:23 pm

    Thank God for the firefighters willing to save the furbabies as well as any human!
    Praying for the family who lost their home and praying for the cat that it makes a full recovery!
    Also praying for All firefighters, Paramedics, Police officers, State Troopers and Sheriff’s Deputies as well. Thank you all for serving our neighborhoods!

  2. Barbara on January 13th, 2026 10:06 am

    Dale,

    It’s because all fire departments in northern Santa Rosa County are all staffed by volunteers. Century is a fully manned, paid-staff firestation.

  3. Dale Dirks on January 13th, 2026 8:04 am

    I’ll be praying for the family that’s going through this tragedy. If I lived in Jay I’d be asking why Escambia Fire rescue out of Century was first on scene to a fire in Jay.





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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News