An apartment fire in Jerusalem ended without injuries to residents, but prompted an unusual medical response at the scene. Alongside the evacuation of all occupants from the building, rescue teams provided oxygen to hamsters that were rescued from the apartment after inhaling smoke. Firefighters brought the blaze under control, and authorities confirmed that all residents exited the building safely and without harm.
The fire broke out in an apartment on Louis Lipsky Street in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem. Fire and rescue crews carried out searches inside the apartment and throughout the building to ensure no one remained trapped. During these operations, the hamsters were located inside the apartment and removed from the smoke-filled environment. Medical teams, operating under the direction of the fire crews, administered oxygen as a precaution due to the high risk associated with smoke inhalation in small animals.
Why are hamsters especially vulnerable to smoke inhalation?
Hamsters are among the small mammals considered highly vulnerable in fire-related incidents because of their respiratory physiology. They have extremely small lung capacity combined with a rapid breathing rate, which leads to fast absorption of toxic gases commonly found in smoke, including carbon monoxide, cyanide compounds and fine particulate matter. Veterinary research shows that small mammals can reach dangerous toxin levels in the bloodstream far more quickly than humans, even after brief exposure.
In addition, hamsters have a high metabolic rate and elevated baseline oxygen demand. When oxygen levels drop in smoke-filled environments, their bodies struggle to compensate, sharply increasing the risk of respiratory collapse or systemic injury. For this reason, veterinary emergency guidelines emphasize immediate oxygen therapy for small animals rescued from enclosed fire scenes, even when no obvious signs of distress are visible at the time of rescue.
